The Combined Effect of Donepezil and Lovastatin on the Electrical Activity of Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Background: Donepezil, a noncompetitive acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is prescribed to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease but it only has moderate performance. Therefore, combination therapies are more effective. There is much evidence suggesting that statins have neuroprotective effects on neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to investigate the combined effects of Donepezil and Lovastatin on the activity of the pyramidal neurons of the CA۱ hippocampus.Methods: In the present experiment study, adult male rats were divided into ۳ groups: Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis (NBM) lesion (which received electrically- induced lesion (۰.۵ mA, ۳s) in NBM) group, NBM lesion + injection Donepezil ۵mg/kg-Lovastatin ۱۰mg/kg, NBM lesion+ injection Donepezil ۱۵mg/kg-Lovastatin ۳۰mg/kg. Spontaneous activity of pyramidal neurons in CA۱ region to injection of Donepezil-Lovastatin was investigated in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.Results: The results of this study showed that electrical lesion of NBM leads to a decrease in the activity frequency of pyramidal neurons in the CA۱ region. Administration of Donepezil ۵mg/kg-Lovastatin ۱۰mg/kg increased the frequency of pyramidal neurons in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that co-administration of Donepezil-Lovastatin (low doses) increases the activity of the CA۱ pyramidal neurons in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s Disease , Single Unit Recording , Hippocampus , Donepezil , Lovastatin , Rat