The effect of ampakine Farampator (CX691) on working memory in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease induced by Amyloid beta 1-42

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause memory loss, personality changes and unusual behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ampakine Farampator on impairment of working memory in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Forty male Wistar rat (250-300g) were randomly divided into five experimental groups including: Group 1: Sham/control (intra-hippocampal microinjection of phosphate buffer solution (PBS)/1μl); Group 2: Rat model of Alzheimer's disease (intra-hippocampal microinjection of 4μg/1μl amyloid beta 1-42), Groups 3 & 4: Rat model of Alzheimer's disease + Farampator (30 and 300 µg/kg/by oral gavage/ twice per day); Group 5: Rat model of Alzheimer's disease + Farampator vehicle (saline/ by oral gavage / twice per day). Y-maze spontaneous alternation test was used to evaluate the working memory.

Intra-hippocampal injection of amyloid beta 1-42 caused significant defects in working memory in rat model of Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.01). Farampator 300 µg/kg significantly improved working memory task in rat model of Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.05). Farampator 30 µg/kg had no significant effect on working memory impairment in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Ampakine farampator can improve the working memory defect in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.