“Study on the effect of Deferiprone on Scopolamine-induced memory deficit in rats”

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive and memory problems. Scopolamine (SCOP) is a natural anticholinergic drug that produces brain lesions similar to that of AD and was proven to cause memory impairment in rats. Chelating agents are potential neuroprotective and memory enhancing agents due to their ability to trap iron which enters in pathological disposition of β-amyloid (Aβ). This study investigated the potential neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects the iron-chelating drug, Deferiprone (DFP). Three doses (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) were administered to rats treated with SCOP (1.14 mg/kg/day). Systemic administration of SCOP caused memory impairment manifested as increased transfer latencies in Morris water maze test, decreased retention latencies in passive avoidance test and increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Aβ and free iron disposition. Pretreatment with DFP decreased transfer latencies in Morris water maze training and increased retention latencies in the passive avoidance test. It also attenuated the increase in AChE activity and decreased Aβ and iron disposition. Overall, DFP (10 mg/kg) was the most effective dose. Therefore, this study suggests neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects for DFP in a rat model of AD which might be attributed to its iron-chelating action and anti-oxidative effect.