engleski

Intracerebrovetricular Application of a Small Dose of Botulinum Toxin Type A Produces Long Term Cognitive Impairment in Rats

Aim of this study was to investigate onset time and duration period of the deficits caused by central application of small doses of the BTX type A in the rat brain. Male Wistar rats were injected intracerebroventriculary with 2 U/kg of BTX A or a saline solution. Morris water maze test was used to monitor learning and memory capacities. Water maze task was performed 15th day after the surgery ; one month after the surgery and from that point on once per month for 12 months in total. Additionally, rotarod and hot plate test were used in the assessment of possible gross motor and thermal sensitivity deficits, respectively. Dose of 2U/kg of BTX A produced significantly impaired performance in the Morris water maze test. Impairment develops slowly over time, becoming significant after two months, and last up to 12 months without any sign of recovery. No changes in motor performance or thermal sensitivity were detected. In the present experiments, we have for the first time demonstrated that icv application of a small dose of BTX-A in rats produce slow onset and apparently permanent cognitive impairment.

Botulinum toxin type A; memory; dementia; water maze; icv

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