title: Effects of cholestasis on learning and locomotor activity in bile duct ligated rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive functions are impaired in patients with liver disease. Bile duct ligation causes cholestasis that impairs liver function. This study investigated the impact of cholestasis progression on the acquisition and retention times in the passive avoidance test and on the locomotor activity of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cholestasis was induced in male Wistar rats by ligating the main bile duct. Locomotor activity, learning and memory were assessed by the passive avoidance learning test at day 7, day 14, and day 21 post-bile duct ligation. The serum levels of bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that acquisition time and locomotor activity were not affected at day 7 and day 14, but they were significantly (P < 0.05) impaired at day 21 post-bile duct ligation compared with the results for the control group. Additionally, memory was significantly impaired on day 7 (P < 0.01), day 14, and day 21 (P < 0.001) compared with the control groups. The levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly higher at day 7, day 14, and day 21 post-bile duct ligation compared with the levels in the sham group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these findings, both liver and memory function were affected in the early stage of cholestasis (7 days after bile duct ligation), while learning and locomotor activity were impaired at 21 days after bile duct ligation following the progression of cholestasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Vali-e-asr Avenue, 15948 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Avenu, 81745 Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hojjatallah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azad University, Garmsar Branch, 3581631167 Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Avenu, 81745 Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radahmadi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Vali-e-asr Avenue, 15948 Tehran, Iran ; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advance Medical Technologies and Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Vali-e Asr Ave, 1416753955 Tehran, Iran ; Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1635713366 Tehran, Iran ; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Niavaran, 19395-5746 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zarrindast
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohammad Reza
keywords: BDL; cholestasis; locomotor activity; passive avoidance; rat