Carbacetam effect on behavioral reactions in experimental Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Introduction. Considering the inadequate results of the actual treatment, the search for new means of pathogenic therapy of Alzheimer’s disease is important. The objective of the study. To assess the efficacy of new original modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ERGIC carbacetam system by the dynamics of parameters of the cognitive ability of rats with Alzheimer’s disease. Materials and methods. Alzheimer’s disease was simulated by intraperitoneal introduction of scopolamine hydrochloride (Sigma, USA) during 27 days, in the dose of 1 mg/kg. Beginning with the 28th day of the experiment, carbacetam was introduced intraperitoneal, in the dose of 5 mg/kg in 1 ml of physiological solution (saline) – once a day during 14 days. Results. Behavioral reactions of rats with Alzheimer’s disease after carbacetam introduction in the “open field” test, were characterized by reduced period of “immobility”, increase motor, orientation-learning activity; in “conditioned passive avoidance reflex” test – increased latent period of entering rats into a dark chamber connected to electric current. Conclusions. Behavior of rats with Alzheimer’s disease in “open field” test after carbacetam introduction during 14 days was characterized by reduced latent period of “immobility”, improvement of motor and orientation-learning activity. It was indicative of decreased anxiety level, improvement of adaptation and cognitive reactions. Increased latent period in conditioned passive avoidance reflex (CPAR) test on the 1st and 14th day of carbacetam introduction reflected more effective retention of the conditioned reflex to electric painful stimulation, and improvement of cognitive ability of rats with Alzheimer’s disease respectively, under the influence of the new endogenous modulator of GABA-ERGIC system.

Keywords

• scopolamine-induced Alzheimer’s diseases
• carbacetam
• higher nervous activity