title: Post-treatment with cotinine improved memory and decreased depressive-like behavior after chemotherapy in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most cancer patients treated with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy endure long-lasting side effects including decrease in concentration, forgetfulness and slower thinking, which are globally termed "chemobrain." Cotinine, the main derivative of nicotine, improved visual and spatial working memory and decreased depressive-like behavior in an animal model of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we investigated the effect of cotinine on weight gain, locomotor activity, cognitive abilities and depressive-like behavior in rats treated with the chemotherapy mix, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. Locomotor activity and depressive-like behavior were assessed using the rotarod and Porsolt's tests, respectively. Changes in cognitive abilities were determined using the novel place recognition test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female rats treated with cotinine after chemotherapy, recovered weight faster, showed superior cognitive abilities and lower levels of depressive-like behavior than chemotherapy, vehicle-treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This evidence suggests that treatment with cotinine may facilitate the recovery and diminish the cognitive consequences of chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4080871, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iarkov
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Appunn
authors.affiliation: Facultad de ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, 4080871, Concepción, Chile. echeverria.valentina@gmail.com.|Department of Veterans Affairs, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, 10,000 Bay Pines Blvd. Bldg. 22, Rm. 123, Bay Pines, FL, 33744, USA. echeverria.valentina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Echeverria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003367:Cotinine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003367:Cotinine
keywords: Cotinine; Cyclophosphamide; Depression; Fluorouracil; Memory; Methotrexate