The Study of Effect of Nilutamide (An Androgen Receptor Antagonist) on Spatial Learning And Memory in Adolescent Male Rats

Nilutamide is a pure non-steroidal antiandrogen that is used in the treatment of advanced-stage (metastatic) prostate cancer and acts as a potent and selective antagonist of the androgen receptors. Previous studies showed that there must be relationship between androgen receptors and cognitive aspects of the brain. Therefore, it seems that nilutamide affects spatial learning and memory through effect on androgen receptors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nilutamide on spatial localization in the Morris Water Maze and synaptic plasticity at the hippocampus CA1 area of male adolescent rats. In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=9). Experimantal groups received vehicle (DMSO 10%) as control groups and different doses of Nilutamide (5, 10 and 15µg/2.5µl). Drug and vehicle were injected for 4 days before training.  This study with research ethics code
EE/ 97, 24, 3061300/ scu.ac.ir has been approved by research ethics committee at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Analysis showed that escape latency and traveled distance for finding hidden platform in the group which received nilutamide (15µg) were significantly lower than of control group at first (p < 0.05) and second (p < 0.01) training days. The results of field potential recording showed that nilutamide had not any significant effect on fEPSP and PS. The results of peresent study releaved that i.c.v microinjection of nilutamide improved spatial learninig in first and second days, wherease increase of treatment (4 days) not affected spatial learning.