Effect of nerve growth factor on spatial learning and memory in aged rats with Alzheimer's disease

doi:10.3321/j.issn:1673-8225.2004.10.019

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor(NGF) has been shown to improve the ability of spatial learning and memory in young rats with fimbria-fornix(F-F) transection. But it is by far not known whether aged rats with F-F transection respond to NGF treatment in view of spatial learning and memory.OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of NGF on spatial learning and memory abilities in aged rats with unilateral F-F transection.SETTING and MATERIALS: A controlled animal experiment completed in the Anatomy Department of Guangzhou Medical College. Thirty male SD rats aged 24 months, NGF(3.0 g/L, resolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid kindly presented by Academy of Military Medicine) and cytochrome C(Cyt C)(artificially confected by cerebrospinal fluid).infusion of NGF or Cyt C into the cerebroventricular space. One month after the operation, the learning and memory abilities of the rats were measured by Morris water maze and Y-maze tests.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In Morris water maze, the average latency of rats in the platform and the number of platform crossings within 120 s. The learning and memory of rats were detected in Y-maze trial.RESULTS: NGF treatment significantly shortened the escape latency in the rats with F-F transection and increased the total swim distance in the platform quadrants within 120 s and the number of platform crossings. NGF treatment also reduced the number of times of training for Y-maze test as well as the number of correct conditioned reflex, but the normal levels were not attained.CONCULSION: NGF may significantly improve the ability of spatial learning and memory in aged rats with F-F transection.