Carnitine congener mildronate protects against stress- and haloperidol-induced impairment in memory and brain protein expression in rats
Date
2014
Authors
Beitnere, Ulrika
Dzirkale, Zane
Isajevs, Sergejs
Rumaks, Juris
Svirskis, Simons
Klusa, Vija
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
The present study investigates the efficacy of mildronate, a carnitine congener, to protect stress and haloperidol-induced impairment of memory in rats and the expression of brain protein biomarkers involved in synaptic plasticity, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acetylcholine esterase and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67). Two amnesia models were used: 2 h immobilization stress and 3-week haloperidol treatment. Stress caused memory impairment in the passive avoidance test and induced a significant 2-fold BDNF elevation in hippocampal and striatal tissues that was completely inhibited by mildronate. Mildronate decreased the level of GAD67 (but not acetylcholine esterase) expression by stress. Haloperidol decrease by a third hippocampal BDNF and acetylcholine esterase (but not GAD67) expression, which was normalized by mildronate; it also reversed the haloperidol-induced memory impairment in Barnes test. The results suggest the usefulness of mildronate as protector against neuronal disturbances caused by stress or haloperidol.
Description
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE , Stress , Haloperidol , Memory , Proteinexpression , Mildronate