The Effect of Magnesium Treatment on Passive–Avoidance Response and Formain Test in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Magnesium is an essential metal in carbohydrate metabolism that causes activation and release of insulin. In diabetic patients, increasing blood sugar results to decrease of serum Magnesium and its low concentration in urine. Methods: In this study, 48 NMRI rats (Razi co. Iran) categorized in 4 groups; normal control, diabetic control, normal with magnesium treatment, and diabetic with oral magnesium treatment of 10 g/lit (MgSo4) in water. Diabetes was induced with inter peritoneal prescription of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Glucose concentration was measured with enzymatic-calorimetric method. The learning and memory capacities (acquisition and processing of information, decision making and response initiating functions) were assessed by the passive avoidance in a shuttle box. The differences among sessions in the number of shuttle-avoidance responses were interpreted as learning and memory. The latency time (LT) for enter to dark compartment in 4 groups was measured in 1, 6, 24, 48 hours, one week and two weeks after initial shock through learning test. Findings: The statistical difference of glucose concentrations between normal and diabetic control groups was significant (P < 0.0001). But there was no significant difference among normal control and magnesium treatment diabetic groups. Memory capacities and function in 6 timescales showed statistical difference of mean latency time between normal and diabetic control groups (P < 0.001). There was not significant difference in latency time between magnesium treatment diabetic and normal control groups. Conclusion: The reduction of glucose concentration in diabetic rats after 4 weeks oral treatment with magnesium show a good correlation with increasing their avoidance and latency time of enter to dark compartment. Thus magnesium consuming of diabetic group resulted to modulation of memory through acquisition and processing of information, decision making and response initiating functions. Key words: Diabetic, Magnesium, Passive– avoidance response, Memory, Rat.