Chronic hyperprolinemia provokes a memory deficit in the Morris water maze task

Metab Brain Dis. 2005 Mar;20(1):73-80. doi: 10.1007/s11011-005-2478-x.

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the effect of chronic proline (Pro) administration on rat performance in the Morris water maze task. Rats received s.c. injections of Pro twice a day at 8 h intervals from the 6th to the 28th days of age and equivalent volume of 0.9% saline solution (control). On the 60th day of life, rats were subjected to the water maze task. Results showed that chronic Pro administration provokes impairment on spatial learning, as shown by the increase of latency in acquisition and retention and by a reduced efficiency to find the platform position in the working memory test. Present results suggest that hyperprolininemia causes cognitive dysfunction and might be relevant to explain, at least in part, the neurological dysfunction associated with hyperprolinemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn / metabolism
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn / physiopathology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Maze Learning / physiology*
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology
  • Proline / administration & dosage
  • Proline / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology

Substances

  • Proline