Cholestasis progression effects on long-term memory in bile duct ligation rats.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that cognitive functions are affected by some liver diseases such as cholestasis. Bile duct ligation induces cholestasis as a result of impaired liver function and cognition. This research investigates the effect of cholestasis progression on memory function in bile duct ligation rats.


METHODS
MALE WISTAR RATS WERE RANDOMLY DIVIDED INTO FIVE GROUPS, WHICH INCLUDE: control group for BDL-7, control group for BDL-21, sham group (underwent laparotomy without bile duct ligation), BDL-7 group (7 days after bile duct ligation), and BDL-21 group (21 days after bile duct ligation). Step-through passive avoidance test was employed to examine memory function. In all groups, short-term (7 days after foot shock) and long-term memories (21 days after foot shock) were assessed.


RESULTS
Our results showed that liver function significantly decreased with cholestasis progression (P < 0.01). Also our findings indicated BDL-21 significantly impaired acquisition time (P < 0.05). Memory retrieval impaired 7 (P < 0.05) and 21 days (P < 0.001) after foot shock in BDL-7 and BDL-21 groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these findings, liver function altered in cholestasis and memory (short-term and long-term memory) impaired with cholestasis progression in bile duct ligation rats. Further studies are needed to better insight the nature of progression of brain damage in cholestatic disease.
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.
Nasrin
N
Hosseini
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hojjatallah
H
Alaei
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Technologies and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Addiction Studies, Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Zarrindast
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar Branch, Garmsar, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Nasehi
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Maryam
M
Radahmadi
Cholestasis; learning; memory; rat