The Effect of MK-801 on Memory after Induction of Repetitive Spreading Depression in the Juvenile Rat

The term cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) describes a wave of mass neuronal depolarization linked with ionic distribution and cellular swelling. Glutamate release following cell depolarization in extracellular space is a major event in this phenomenon. The hippocampus is widely accepted to play a pivotal role in memory. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) sub receptor on SD-induced memory deficits in rats.
36 juvenile Wistar rat were used to investigate the role of repetitive SD induction on memory performance by T-Maze test. We have investigated the role of MK-801, a NMDA receptor blocker, on the memory retrieval by the same test.
Behavioral assessments showed that memory retrieval significantly impaired following by the repetitive SD induction. However, application of MK-801 improved the memory deficits induced by the repetitive SD. Our data suggested that NMDA receptors may play a critical role on protection of memory in SD related disorders.