effect of methylprednisolone on spatial learning and memory in adult male rats using an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease

ABSTRACT

The methylprednisolone [MP] is a synthetic glucocorticoid steroid initiallydeveloped for its enhanced anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aimed to examinethe effect of MP on the spatial learning and memory in an experimental model ofAlzheimer's disease in rats. Male rats were allocated into five groups control group; lesiongroup which received electrically-induced lesion [0.5 mA, 3s] in the nucleus basalismagnocellularis [NBM] to create Alzheimer's model; sham group [the electrode wasimpaled into the NBM with no lesion]; MP group [lesion+30 mg/kg MP] and saline group [lesion NBM + 0.2 mL saline]. After one week, the rats were trained to perform the Y-mazetask for five days. The animals were tested for spatial memory one month later. Results showed that the bilateral lesion of NBM impaired the .spatial learningcompared to the control group [P=0.01]. The administration of MP significantly improved spatial learning of rats with the Alzheimer's disease [P<0.001]. Moreover, no effect onspatial learning was seen in the sham group compared with the lesion group. No significantdifference was observed between the results in the 5th day of training and the memory testafter one month. Administration of MP can be an effective treatment for the Alzheimer'sdisease