Zaprinast and rolipram enhances spatial and emotional memory in the elevated plus maze and passive avoidance tests and diminishes exploratory activity in naive mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors in the central nervous system have been shown to stimulate neuronal functions and increase neurogenesis in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients.

MATERIAL/METHODS:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zaprinast, a PDE5 inhibitor, and rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, on learning and memory in elevated plus maze (EPM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests in naive mice. Male Balb-c mice received short-term treatment with zaprinast (3 and 10 mg/kg) and rolipram (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) before the acquisition trial of the EPM and PA tests. The exploratory activity of the animals was also investigated in the Hughes box test.

RESULTS:

Both zaprinast (10 mg/kg) and rolipram (0.1 mg/kg) significantly decreased second-day latency compared to the control group in the EPM test, while only rolipram (0.1 mg/kg) significantly increased second-day latency in the PA test. Both zaprinast (10 mg/kg) and rolipram (0.1 mg/kg) significantly decreased the number of entries to new areas and time spent in new areas in the Hughes box test.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study revealed that both zaprinast and rolipram enhanced spatial memory in EPM, while rolipram seemed to have more emotional memory-enhancing effects in the PA test compared to zaprinast. Both zaprinast and rolipram diminished exploratory activity in the Hughes box test, which can be attributed to the drugs' anxiogenic effects.

• Authors: Furuzan Akar, Oguz Mutlu, Ipek Komsuoglu Celikyurt, Guner Ulak, Faruk Erden, Emine Bektas, Pelin Tanyeri
• Journal: Medical science monitor basic research (Med Sci Monit Basic Res) Vol. 20 Pg. 105-11 (Jul 24 2014) ISSN: 2325-4416 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25057848 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Purinones
• zaprinast
• Rolipram

Topics

• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Emotions (drug effects)
• Exploratory Behavior (drug effects)
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Purinones (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Rolipram (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Spatial Memory (drug effects)