The potent free radical scavenger alpha-lipoic acid improves memory in aged mice: putative relationship to NMDA receptor deficits.

Authors: Stoll S; Hartmann H; Cohen SA; Müller WE

Abstract: alpha-Lipoic acid (alpha-LA) improved longer-term memory of aged female NMRI mice in the habituation in the open field test at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight for 15 days. In a separate experiment, no such effect could be found for young mice. alpha-LA alleviated age-related NMDA receptor deficits (Bmax) without changing muscarinic, benzodiazepine, and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor deficits in aged mice. The carbachol-stimulated accumulation of inositol monophosphates was not changed by the treatment with alpha-LA. These results give tentative support to the hypothesis that alpha-LA improves memory in aged mice, probably by a partial compensation of NMDA receptor deficits. Possible modes of action of alpha-LA based on its free radical scavenger properties are discussed in relation to the membrane hypothesis of aging.

Keywords: Aging/*psychology; Animals; Behavior, Animal/drug effects; Brain Chemistry/drug effects; Carbachol/pharmacology; Cognition/drug effects; Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology; Female; *Free Radical Scavengers; Habituation, Psychophysiologic; Inositol Phosphates/metabolism; Memory/*drug effects; Mice; Receptors, Adrenergic/drug effects; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/drug effects; Receptors, GABA-A/drug effects; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/drug effects/*physiology; Thioctic Acid/*pharmacology
Journal: Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
Volume: 46
Issue: 4
Pages: 799-805
Date: Dec. 1, 1993
PMID: 8309958


Citation:

Stoll S, Hartmann H, Cohen SA, Müller WE (1993) The potent free radical scavenger alpha-lipoic acid improves memory in aged mice: putative relationship to NMDA receptor deficits. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior 46: 799-805.


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  • alpha-LA Lipoic Acid


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