An Intra-hippocampal Injection of Nandrolone Induces Learning and Memory Impairments in Rat

A. Karamian; F. G. Pakdel; M. Ilkhanipoor; F. Farokhi; A. Ahmadi

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1364000

Drug Research, Table of Contents

Drug Res (Stuttg) 2015; 65(1): 1-4
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1364000

Original Article

An Intra-hippocampal Injection of Nandrolone Induces Learning and Memory Impairments in Rat

Authors

A. Karamian

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
F. G. Pakdel

²Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Science, Urmia, Iran
M. Ilkhanipoor

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
F. Farokhi

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
A. Ahmadi

³Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Abstract

This study was investigated to evaluate the effect of intra-hippocampal injection of the nandrolone on spatial learning task in rats. The drug or vehicle was manually injected into the hippocampus with a 10-µl Hamilton syringe attached via polyethylene tubing to 27-gauge stainless-steel injection cannula. After 6 days of recovery, learning behaviors were evaluated using an 8-arm radial maze. The results showed that intra-hippocampal injection of nandrolone can impair trained spatial learning at a dose of 5 µl. We also observed a dense cytoplasm and nucleus in CA1 neurons as well as signs of necrosis. Nandrolone can impair the time required to reach the baited arm as well as the frequency of successful arm entries. At the 10 µl dose of nandrolone, neural hypertrophy and increased dentate gyrus volume were also observed.

Key words

intra-hippocampal - nandrolone - learning - memory - radial maze

Full Text

References

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