Diphenyl diselenide ameliorates cognitive deficits induced by a model of menopause in rats

Ovarian hormone loss contributes to cognitive decline in postmenopausal women. Studies have demonstrated a positive role of the level of the element selenium in cognitive performance. The present study investigated the effects of the synthetic organoselenium compound diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)₂ on cognitive functions in ovariectomized rats. Ninety-day-old female Wistar rats were subjected to ovariectomy (OVX) or Sham operation. One week after surgery, rats were orally treated with (PhSe)₂ (5 mg/kg, per oral route) or vehicle once a day for 30 days. Next, the rats were evaluated in behavioral tests [Morris water maze (MWM) and open-field tests] and biochemical [cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE)] analyses were carried out. In MWM probe trial, (PhSe)₂ decreased the latency to reach the platform location and increased the number of crossings over the platform location, protecting against cognitive impairment induced by OVX. Furthermore, (PhSe)₂ prevented the stimulation of AChE activity caused by OVX. In conclusion, the present study showed a cognition-enhancing effect of (PhSe)₂ treatment for 30 days in ovariectomized rats in the MWM test, which could be related to its ability to prevent the stimulation of AChE activity caused by OVX in rats. These findings suggest that (PhSe)₂ might have a promising role in preventing the cognitive decline related to menopause.