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Effect of dextromethorphan on reference memory assessed in rats by a three-panel runway task
Semil Selcen Göçmez1, Bekir Faruk Erden, Güner Ulak
1Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Arzneimittel-Forschung
|May 27, 2006
Summary
Dextromethorphan (DM), a cough medicine, improved memory in rats by blocking NMDA receptors. It also reversed memory loss caused by scopolamine, suggesting new uses for this drug.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dextromethorphan (DM) is a common antitussive medication.
- Its effects on cognitive functions, specifically reference memory, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dextromethorphan on reference memory in a rat model.
- To explore DM's potential to reverse scopolamine-induced memory deficits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a three-panel runway setup with a repeated acquisition procedure (radial arm maze or water maze task).
- Administered dextromethorphan (20-40 mg/kg i.p.) and scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p.) to rats.
- Assessed performance based on error rates and latency.
Main Results:
- Dextromethorphan (20-40 mg/kg) significantly reduced errors and latency, indicating improved reference memory.
- Scopolamine impaired performance, while DM (40 mg/kg) reversed these deficits.
- DM acts as a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist.
Conclusions:
- Inhibition of NMDA receptors by DM demonstrates potential cognitive-enhancing properties.
- These findings suggest dextromethorphan may have therapeutic applications beyond cough suppression.
- Further evaluation of this established antitussive drug for cognitive enhancement is warranted.