Effect of Memantine on Motor Behavioral Phenomena in Rats of Different Ages

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurogenerative disease characterized by significant worsening of memory, disorders in the emotional sphere, and impairment of cognitive and motor functions. Agonists of NMDA receptors are used as potential therapeutic agents for correction of the above disorders, and memantine is one of such drugs. This agent decelerates the progressive development of neurodegenerative processes. It demonstrated a neuromodulatory action on motor behavioral phenomena in 2- and 13-month-old rats placed in nowel conditions of free behavior; estimation was performed before and after peroral introduction of 10 mg/kg memantine. Videorecording of the animals’ behavior with subsequent analysis of the records was used in the experiments. According to the obtained data, memantine decreased, in general, motor activity of the rats, increased the duration of episodes of their quiet standstill state, and, simultaneously, somewhat increased the intensity of research phenomena. These results show that memantine weakens the state of fear and anxiety related to potential dangers in an unknown surrounding, promotes manifestations of the research reflex, and makes adaptation of the rats to novel conditions more rapid.