The memory and learning enhancing effects of Atristamine

Abstract

The object of the present study, 2-methyl-3-(phenylaminomethyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one (Atristamine), has been deeply studied as a promising antidepressant with the unique spectrum of additional neuropharmacological properties. Previously, the memory-enhancing effects of Atristamine have already been studied in the passive-avoidance test after scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Thus, the study of the effects of Atristamine on the spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze under physiological conditions was the next logical step of our research. According to the results obtained, Atristamine (100 mg/kg) has almost the same effect on the main markers of the memory-enhancing activity (the escape latency and distance moved) as Piracetam (300 mg/kg) and Phenibut (20 mg/kg) chosen as the well-studied and widely-used memory enhancers. The escape latency decreased in the Atristamine group by 3.2 times compared to the vehicle control group, whereas Piracetam and Phenibut caused a significant reduction of this indicator by 4.3 and 3.7 times, respectively. Moreover, the rats from the Atristamine group swam 5.1 times shorter distance to the platform in the probe trial compared to animals from the vehicle control group. The distance moved was 3-fold shorter in the Piracetam group and decreased by 5.2 times in the Phenibut group. All drugs used in this study caused considerable changes of inter-quadrant preferences of animals. Based on the analysis of the inter-quadrant behaviour of rats, it has been found that there are considerable differences in search strategies associated, probably, with distinct mechanisms of the memory and learning enhancing action of the drugs used.