Intrahippocampal injection of 3 alpha diol [a testosterone metabolite] and indomethacin [3 alpha -HSD blocker], impair acquisition of spatial learning and memory in adult male rats

Hippocampus is essentially involved in learning and memory processes, and is known to be a target for androgen actions. The high density of the androgen receptors in hippocampus shows that there must be some relationship between androgens and memory. Androgen effects on spatial memory are complex and contradictory. Some evidence suggests a positive correlation between androgens and spatial memory. While some other reports indicated an impairment effect. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of 3 alpha diol on spatial discrimination of rats. Adult male rats were bilaterally cannulated into CA1 region of hippocampus and then received 3 alpha diol [0.2, 1, 3 and 6 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side], indomethacin [1.5, 3 and 6 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side], indomethacin [3 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side] + 3 alpha diol [1 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side], 25-35 min before training in Morris Water Maze task. Our results showed that injection of 3 alpha diol [1, 3 and 6 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side] and indomethacin [3 and 6 micro g/ 0.5 micro L/side] significantly increased the escape latency and traveled distance to find hidden platform. It is concluded that intra CA1 administration of 3 alpha diol and indomethacin could impair spatial learning and memory in acquisition stage. However, intra hippocampal injection of indomethacin plus 3 alpha diol could not change spatial learning and memory impairment effect of indomethacin or 3 alpha diol in Morris Water Maze task

Effect of 3alpha-anderostanediol and indomethacin on acquisition, consolidation and retrieval stage of spatial memory in adult male rats

Testosterone and its metabolites have important roles in learning and memory. The current study has conducted to assess the effect of pre-training, post-training and pre-probe trial intrahippocampal CA1 administration of 3alpha-anderostanediol [one of the metabolites of testosterone] and indomethacin [as 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme blocker] on acquisition, consolidation and retrieval in Morris water maze [MWM] task. Adult male rats were bilaterally cannulated into CA1 region of hippocampus and then received 3alpha-diol [0.2, 1, 3 and 6 microg/0.5 microl/side], indomethacin [1.5, 3 and 6 microg/0.5 microl/side], indomethacin [3 microg/0.5 microl/side] + 3alpha-diol [1 microg/0.5 microl/side], 25-35 min before training, immediately after training and 25-35 min before probe trial in MWM task. Our results showed that injection of 3alpha-diol and indomethacin significantly increased the escape latency and traveled distance to find hidden platform in acquisition and consolidation stage, but did not have any effect on retrieval of spatial learning as compared with the control group. It is concluded that intra-CAl administration of 3alpha-diol and indomethacin could impair spatial learning and memory in acquisition and consolidation stage. Also, intrahippocampal injection of indomethacin + 3alpha-diol could not change spatial learning and memory impairment effect of indomethacin or 3a-diol in MWM task