OBJECTIVE: Previous work has demonstrated that two synthetic peptides can prevent prenatal alcohol-induced damage as assessed by prevention of learning abnormalities in adult offspring as well as improve outcome from traumatic brain damage. The current studies were undertaken to evaluate whether these peptides could enhance performance in a learning and memory paradigm when administered either prenatally or to aged mice. STUDY DESIGN: For prenatal treatment, C57Bl6/J mice were treated on gestational day 8 with 1 oral administration of D-NAP or D-SAL alone or D-NAP+D-SAL or a double dose of D-SAL. Control groups were same-regimen treated with vehicle alone. Learning was assessed in adult male offspring (35-50 days) by using the Morris water maze. To evaluate aged animals, 12-month-old mice were treated with D-NAP and D-SAL or vehicle alone daily and tested on the Morris water maze. RESULTS: Offspring exposed prenatally to D-NAP+D-SAL learned significantly faster than controls, with an earlier onset of learning and an overall decreased latency to find the hidden platform (P < .05). Animals exposed prenatally to either D-NAP or D-SAL alone learned similar to control, with a trend toward faster latencies. Aged animals who received D-NAP+D-SAL learned significantly faster than age-matched controls, with an earlier onset of learning (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Combined D-NAP+D-SAL enhanced learning in healthy young mice and aged mice. These findings suggest potential therapeutic interventions not only during a critical developmental period, but also in aged animals.
OBJECTIVE: Previous work has demonstrated that two synthetic peptides can prevent prenatal alcohol-induced damage as assessed by prevention of learning abnormalities in adult offspring as well as improve outcome from traumatic brain damage. The current studies were undertaken to evaluate whether these peptides could enhance performance in a learning and memory paradigm when administered either prenatally or to aged mice. STUDY DESIGN: For prenatal treatment, C57Bl6/J mice were treated on gestational day 8 with 1 oral administration of D-NAP or D-SAL alone or D-NAP+D-SAL or a double dose of D-SAL. Control groups were same-regimen treated with vehicle alone. Learning was assessed in adult male offspring (35-50 days) by using the Morris water maze. To evaluate aged animals, 12-month-old mice were treated with D-NAP and D-SAL or vehicle alone daily and tested on the Morris water maze. RESULTS: Offspring exposed prenatally to D-NAP+D-SAL learned significantly faster than controls, with an earlier onset of learning and an overall decreased latency to find the hidden platform (P < .05). Animals exposed prenatally to either D-NAP or D-SAL alone learned similar to control, with a trend toward faster latencies. Aged animals who received D-NAP+D-SAL learned significantly faster than age-matched controls, with an earlier onset of learning (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Combined D-NAP+D-SAL enhanced learning in healthy young mice and aged mice. These findings suggest potential therapeutic interventions not only during a critical developmental period, but also in aged animals.
Authors: B Lewis; K A Wellmann; A M H Kehrberg; M L Carter; T Baldwin; M Cohen; S Barron Journal: Pharmacol Biochem Behav Date: 2011-10-20 Impact factor: 3.533
Authors: Laura Toso; Andrea Johnson; Stephanie Bissell; Robin Roberson; Daniel Abebe; Catherine Y Spong Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 8.661
Authors: Maddalena Incerti; Kari Horowitz; Robin Roberson; Daniel Abebe; Laura Toso; Madeline Caballero; Catherine Y Spong Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-11-29 Impact factor: 3.240