ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Aging
;
Phosphatidylserine
;
Spatial memory
;
Passive avoidance
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Learning/memory deficits in senescent animals are widely used as a tool to evaluate the therapeutic potential of agents for treatment of age-associated cognitive dysfunction. As assessed in the Morris water maze test, aged (21–24 months) rats showed a variable loss of spatial memory. Aged non-impaired rats performed as well as young subjects, while aged impaired rats exhibited a severe and persistent place-navigation, deficit. Passive avoidance retention was similarly affected in the two aged subpopulations. Chronic oral administration of phosphatidylserine (50 mg/kg/day for up to 12 weeks), a pharmacologically active phospholipid, was found to improve both the spatial memory and the passive avoidance retention of aged impaired rats. Results are discussed with reference to the phosphatidylserine-induced improvement of age-associated deterioration of brain functions in rats.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00445550
