The inhibitory effect of levo-tetrahydropalmatine on the methamphetamine-induced spatial memory impairment in mice

Neurosci Lett. 2018 Apr 13:672:34-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.02.018. Epub 2018 Feb 12.

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) administration results in addiction and memory impairment. Previous studies have suggested that levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), an alkaloid purified from the Chinese herb Corydalis, attenuates the behavioral changes induced by METH. Therefore, in this study, we explored whether l-THP could also protect against the METH-induced memory impairment examined using the Morris water maze (MWM). We found that low dose of METH (1.0 mg/kg) treated for 20 consecutive days prior to the MWM experiment impaired spatial memory retention but not acquisition in mice. In addition, high dose of METH (10.0 mg/kg) treated during the spatial learning phase for five consecutive days impaired both the acquisition and retention of spatial memory. Moreover, both of these impairments induced by METH were reversed by l-THP treatment, indicating a potential protective role of l-THP in METH use.

Keywords: Memory impairment; Methamphetamine; l-Tetrahydropalmatine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Berberine Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Methamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Spatial Learning / drug effects
  • Spatial Memory / drug effects*

Substances

  • Berberine Alkaloids
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • tetrahydropalmatine
  • Methamphetamine