ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recent studies suggest that glucocorticoids modulate memory reconsolidation. Moreover, cholinergic system is involved in memory reconsolidation. Since glucocorticoids interact with brain cholinergic system in modulating memory processing, we investigated whether glucocorticoid influences on the reconsolidation of emotionally arousing training depend on the cholinergic system
Methods: Mice were trained [1mA, 3s footshock] in an inhibitory avoidance task. Forty-eight hours after training, memory reactivation was occurred [Test 1], and different treatments were given. Two [Test 2], five [Test 3], and seven days [Test 4] after memory reactivation [Test 1], animals were retested for fear memory retention
Results: In the first experiment, we observed that administration of corticosterone [CORT, 0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg] following memory reactivation impaired subsequent expression of memory in a dose-dependent manner. In the second experiment, we found that CORT-induced impairment of memory reconsolidation was reversed by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine [0.5 and 2 mg/kg]. In the third experiment, the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecaylamine [0.5 or 2 mg/kg] was not able to block the corticosterone response
Discussion: These findings indicate that glucocorticoids impair memory reconsolidation by a muscarinic cholinergic mechanism
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have shown that physicians use high doses of Carbamazepine [CBZ] and Valproate [VPA] to control of epileptic attacks, while these drugs incur of many side effects include of gastrointestinal, hematologic, psychiatric, cardiac and other side effects. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum therapeutic dose with and an acceptable blood level of these drugs. This semi-experimental study was done in 56 epileptic patients in during of one year. At the first demographic data including of age, sex, weight and the period of drug taking was recorded. Then the drug CBZ and VPA were prescribed to adults [more than 12 years old] 9-11 mg/kg and 12-14 mg/kg respectively, and in children [less than 12 years old] 12-14 and 12-15 mg/kg respectively. Serum levels of CBZ and VPA were measured monthly by gas chromatography method that is separation technique, is mostly employed in chemical analysis. The results indicated that serum levels of CBZ and VPA in adult were 7.4 and 74.7 and serum levels of drugs in children were 8.2 and 66.8 respectively. Also patients have not epilepsy attack in during the period of assessment. These findings showed that with a much lower dosage of the drugs, which is suggested in texts can lead to an appropriate blood level of CBZ and VPA for controlling the epileptic seizures