Effects of cholinergic hypofunction induced by AF64A (acetylethylcholine mustard hydrochloride) on spatial memory in wistar rats

• Grant number: 12/06521-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique Florindo
• Grantee: Luiz Henrique Florindo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São José do Rio Preto

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major causes of dementia in aging, characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive functions. Between histopatological characteristics stand out the presence of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal death in regions with higher density of cholinergic neuron, as the basal forebrain. Due to the loss of these neurons, there is reductions in the availability of acetylcholine (ACh) in regions that receive cholinergic projections, and many of them are associated with impaired attention, learning and memory. Thus, the current drugs used in the treatment of AD seek mainly to preserve cholinergic transmission. However, they present several clinical limitations and burdensome costs. Therefore, studies are needed to seek compounds with potential pharmacological treatment for this disease and with fewer adverse effects and lower costs. For the same, it's necessary that methodologies in basic research are well described and validated in order to provide tools for future studies that seek alternative treatments and more accessible to the population. This study aims to evaluate the effect of cholinergic hypofunction on memory, by means of T maze test and Morris water maze. Thus, attempts to establish in this laboratory that is a beginner in this research area, an animal model with cognitive impairments similar to those observed in AD and that serves as a tool for future studies that seek alternative and more accessible ways to reverse the damage caused by cholinergic hypofunction. (AU)