The Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Spatial Learning and Memory in Adult Male Rats Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain and a structural component of neuronal membranes. The present study aimed to examine the effect of DHA on spatial learning and memory in an electrical obliteration of nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) model of Alzheimer's disease.
In this study 56 adult male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: control, lesion (which received bilateral electrical lesions of the NBM), sham (the electrode was entered into the NBM with no lesion), lesion DHA (0.1, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg; ip) and Vehicle (lesion Sesame Oil 0.2mL). After one week, the rats were trained to perform the Y-maze task for five days. Twenty-five days after training, a retention test was performed to determine long-term memory.
Bilateral NBM lesion reduced spatial learning in comparison with control and sham groups (P From the results of this study, it can be concluded that Docosahexaenoic acid improves spatial learning defects in an electrical lesion of NBM model of Alzheimer's disease in a dose-dependent manner.