Intra-hippocampal injection of abscisic acid attenuates learning and memory deficits, and changes oxidative stress indices in REM sleep deprived rats

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Alireza Fekrat ¹
• Mahzad Abbasnejad ²
• Razieh Kooshki ³
• Parastoo Nikkhouy ⁴
• Mehdi Abbasnejad ²

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Noureh hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

³ Lorestan University

⁴ Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman

10.22067/ijvst.2025.86932.1355

Abstract

This study evaluated if intra hippocampal administration of ABA is able to modulate learning and memory performance and oxidative stress biomarkers activities in cerebral cortex of rats exposed to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation. Adult male Wistar rats were cannulated in CA1 area of hippocampus. After recovery, the rats were subjected to REM sleep deprivation for 4 days. Then, the groups of REM sleep deprived (SD) rats were treated with ABA (5, 10, and 15 µg) and ABA (10 µg) + bicuculline (Bic), a competitive GABAA receptor antagonist. Memory and learning were evaluated with Morris water maze (MWM) and shuttle box tests. Moreover, alterations in the levels of catalase as antioxidant enzyme, and MDA and H2O2 as oxidants biomarkers were determined in rat brain cortex. REM SD rats indicated noteworthy learning and memory deficits in both MWM and shuttle box tests when compared to control rats. However, intra-CA1 injection of ABA (10 µg) decreased cognitive impairment in REM SD rats. Bic (1 μg/rat) was not able to change ABA (10 µg) effects. In addition, an increase in catalase activity, and decrease in MDA and H2O2 were indicated in the brain cortex of ABA (10 µg) and ABA+ Bic treated groups. Overall, the data showed ABA aptitude to attenuate REM sleep deprivation-induced learning and memory disruption and oxidative damages in rats. Manipulation of GABAA receptor failed to inhibit ABA effects in REM SD rats.

Keywords

• Sleep deprivation
• Abscisic acid
• Bicuculline
• Learning and memory
• Rat

Main Subjects

• Physiology

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