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Published on: July 8, 2015
Effects of risperidone on learning and memory in naive and MK-801-treated rats
Ipek Komsuoglu Celikyurt1, Furuzan Yildiz Akar, Guner Ulak
1Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Turkey. ikomsu@hotmail.com
Background/Aims:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an atypical antipsychotic risperidone (RIS; 0.06, 0.125 or 0.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) on learning and memory processes, both in naive and MK-801-treated (0.15 mg/kg, i.p.) rats.
Methods:
Modified elevated plus maze (mEPM), passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks were used.
Results:
In the mEPM test, RIS (0.125 or 0.25 mg/kg) significantly decreased the transfer latency and reversed MK-801-induced prolongation in the transfer latency of rats on the 2nd day. In the PA test, RIS (0.125 or 0.25 mg/kg) slightly decreased step-through latency (retention latency) but this finding did not reach statistical significance in naive rats. RIS had no effect on MK-801-induced reduction of retention latency. In the MWM test, RIS (0.06, 0.125 or 0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) neither affected the time spent in the escape platform quadrant, nor the distance to the platform in naive rats. It (0.125 mg/kg) tended to increase MK-801-induced reduction of time spent in the escape platform quadrant, but this finding was insignificant. RIS (0.125 mg/kg) significantly shortened MK-801-induced elongation in the distance to the platform. RIS had no effect on the swimming speed of the animals.
Conclusion:
RIS might be effective in treating cognitive dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia.
