| The present study found positive effects on memory loss in old-age using a new alternative treatment, cerebrolysin. Young (6 months old) and aged (24 months old) rats were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: glucose, cerebrolysin, or saline. Cerebrolysin (2.5 ml/kg) was administered daily for 14 consecutive days. Rats in the glucose (100 mg/kg) group received a post-learning injection following passive avoidance training. In order to assess memory retention, the rats were exposed to two passive avoidance trials (one training and one testing trial). The glucose and saline groups received post-training injections after the first passive avoidance trial (training phase). After a 24-hour retention period, the rats were re-exposed to the passive avoidance task (testing phase) and their response latencies were recorded. Glucose and cerebrolysin each enhance memory for the passive avoidance task for both age groups. Glucose enhanced memory for the passive avoidance task significantly better than did cerebrolysin for both age groups. |
