Influence of Metformin on learning and memory in experimental Amnesia model in Mice

Ayaraman Rajangam*, Shvetank Bhatt, Navaneetha Krishnan, Mounika Sammeta and Lagumsani Joshna

Background: Metformin belongs to the antidiabetic drug but it has been shown some beneficial effects towards Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders and found to be neuroprotective by inhibiting apoptosis in neuronal cortical cells in various animal models apart from its anti-diabetic potential as per the available reports.

Aim and objectives: The present study was aimed to screen the influence of Metformin (MET) against experimentally induced amnesia using scopolamine (SCOP) in mice.

 Materials and methods: Twenty adult albino mice were used for the current study and all the animals were divided into 4 groups of five animals each and treated for about three weeks with MET (10 mg/kg.p.o) whereas amnesia was induced by using SCOP (3 mg/kg ip). The various cognitive skills were assessed by using conventional apparatus like an elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM), motor coordination by rota rod test and neurotoxicity by chimney test.

Results: Results from EPM and MWM indicated the rise in transfer latency and escape latency respectively were due to amnesic effect by administration of SCOP when compared to control animals received normal saline. Administration of standard drug Piracetam (PTM) and test drug MET showed a significant reduction of (p<0.05) in the transfer latency (TL) period were noticed. Thus, the administration of MET significantly ameliorated SCOP-induced amnesia in EPM as indicated by an increase in inflection ratio and reduction in TL. In the MWM test, MET administration showed a beneficial reduction of escape latency (EL) period (p<0.05) when compared to SCOP induced amnesia animals. There were no significant changes in motor coordination and no neurotoxic effects were observed as per the results.

Conclusion: From the results, the administration of SCOP resulted in significant alterations in the cognitive skills of animals particularly impaired learning and memory skills whereas acute administration of MET for about three weeks, resulted in significant amelioration of scopolamine-induced amnesia. This was noticed as indicated by significant reduction  (p<0.05) in transfer latency in the EPM test and significant reduction of  (p<0.05) escape latency in the MWM test which reflects the beneficial effects of MET against scopolamine-induced memory and behavioral deficit in mice.

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Published on: May 12, 2020 Pages: 5-9

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/aadc.000010
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