Effects of nitrendipine on reference and working memory of rats in three-panel runway

This study was designed to investigate whether calcium-channel blocker, nitrendipine affects memory of rats in three-panel runway test. Nitrendipine (2-4 mg kg(-1), intra peritoneally (i.p.)) neither enhanced nor impaired reference and working memory performances of young adult rats. However, it improved impairment in reference memory induced by anticholinergic drug scopolamine (3 mg kg(-1), i.p.) while it had no effects on impairment in working memory induced by the same drug. The results suggest that nitrendipine may be of benefit in the treatment of memory disturbances resulted from cholinergic deficit.