The effects of L-deprenyl on spatial short term memory in young and aged dogs.

1. Young and aged dogs were tested on a spatial memory task using a delayed non matching to sample technique. Dogs were tested with 20, 70 and 110 second delay intervals. Animals were pretrained to a stable level of performance prior to treatment. 2. During treatment periods, dogs were orally administered a placebo or I-deprenyl in doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg in a repeated measures design. 3. Young dogs did not show any significant effects of I-deprenyl, however the sample size was limited. 4. L-deprenyl administration improved spatial memory in aged dogs. 5. The optimal dose or length of treatment time of I-deprenyl varied among individual dogs.