Effect of intracerebroventricular administration of L-Carnitine on memory retention in normal and ovariectomized adult female rats

objectives: L-carnitine is of considerable interest because of its capacity to counteract several physiological and pathological phenomena typical of brain aging processes. methods: The present study investigated the effect of L-carnitine on memory retention of passive avoidance learning in normal and ovariectomized rats. We examined the effects of Lcarnitine on the learning ability of normal and ovariectomized rats. L-carnitine (1, 5 and 10 mg/rat) was received intracerebroventricular injections to normal and ovariectomized adult female rats. Results & Discussion: Our results showed that oral and intracerebroventricular administration of L-carnitine increased step-through latency time and decreased time in dark compartment in passive avoidance tasks in rats. It is concluded that L-carnitine increased memory retention in rats. It is suggested that L-carnitine must be considered as analternative/adjunctive treatment to potentiate memory retention.

Keywords:

L-carnitine , Ovariectomy , Memory , Learning , Rat