Oxytocin stands against 3-NP induced HD like disease in male and female rats

Several studies implicate the role ofOxytocin (OXT ( in anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic pathways that are involved in various pathophysiological processes but these effects can vary depending on sex and environmental circumstance. Therefore, this study examined the effects of OXT on learning and memory impairment induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in Huntington like a model. Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the enzyme that degrades the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is important for learning and memory function, was also evaluated in the Hippocampus (HIP) of male and female rats. In this regard, three-month-old male and female rats were injected intracerebroventricular OXT (10μg) and the next day 3-NP injected for 5 days (20mg/kg). The results of this study showed that oxytocin had no effect in improving motor dysfunction caused by 3- NP in male and female rats but illustrated that OXT improved learning and memory impairment caused by 3-NP in both sexes. In a way that the time latency in stepthrough passive avoidance task reached from 200 ±10 s, in male and 210 ± 10 s, in female control groups to 40 ±10 in male and 45 ±10 in female rats in 3-NP injected ones. In these conditions, OXT injection increased the time latency to 150 ±10 in male and 100 ±10 in female rats. Besides OXT caused a decrease in the activity of the AChE in different brain regions. In a way that the amount of enzyme activity in the HIP reached from 12±2 in male and 12±2 in female control groups to 18 ±2 in male and 16 ±2 in female rats compared to 3-NP injected ones. In this case, oxytocin injection reduced this amount to 15±2 in male and 10±2 (μM/min/mg tissue) in female rats. Collectively the obtained data determined the protective effect of oxytocin in HD like a disease

Keywords:

Oxytocin , Acetylcholinesterase , 3-NP , Learning , memory