ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of chronic epilepsy on spatial memory retrieval in rats, and to evaluate the effects of TAK-147, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and histidine, the precursor of histamine, on the amnesia induced by epilepsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After successfully trained in the 8-arm (4-arm baited) radial maze, the rats were ip injected with a subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) every 48 h until fully kindled. Memory retrieval was tested at the same maze.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Impairment of memory retrieval was in a steady state 1 to 18 days after fully kindled, the ability of memory retrieval returned to the control level 31 days after fully kindled. TAK-147 showed an ameliorating effect on memory impairment induced by epilepsy, including reference and working memory in a dose-dependent manner. Histidine only ameliorated reference but not working memory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PTZ-kindled seizure impair spatial memory retrieval, which it might be due to a decrease of brain acetylcholine and histamine induced by epilepsy.</p>