Effect of citicoline on spatial memory and hippocampal neuronal destruction in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model

Stroke and chronic cerebral hypoperfiusion (CCH) is one of the most common problems following ageing. Using the suitable treatment has been one of the issues in treating these complications. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of citicoline on memory and neuronal survival in CCH rats. 40 rats were divided into four groups (n=10) including: 1) Control, Rats that received vehicle after sham surgery 2) Citicoline: Rats that received citicoline after sham surgery 3) Hypoperfusion: which underwent CCH surgery and received vehicle and 4) Hypoperfusion+Citicoline group, which underwent CCH surgery and then received citicoline.for 10 days  (100 mg/kg). Morris water maze (MWM) and Nissl staining were used to evaluate spatial memory and hippocampal neuronal density in rats, respectively. For data analyzing, two-way ANOVA (for trial test of MWM) and one-way ANOVA (for the other data) were used. The results of the Morris water maze test showed that citicoline treatment increases the time spent in the target zone in hypoperfused rats (P<0.05). Histological studies (Nissl staining) showed that treatment with citicoline increases the number of hippocampal neurons in the CA1 region in CCH rats (P<0.05). Citicoline treatment improves spatial memory and hippocampal neurodegeneration in CCH rats.