Protective effect of selank on the model of mnestic function violation induced by pharmacological blockade of protein synthesis

: We have studied the ability of peptide anxiolytic selank (Thr-Lyz-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) to compensate for mnestic dysfunction caused by the administration of actinomycin D, which inhibits protein synthesis by blocking DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The experiments were performed on white rats with acquired adaptive ability of spatial visual orientation in a 16-door labyrinth. The learning was based on the avoidance of electric skin irritation at alternating sites of escape reaction (site reflex). Selank (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented or compensated for actinomycin D (250 mg/kg, i.p.) induced violation of the process of acquisition, improvement, and consolidation of memory trace during the development of a complex site reflex. The drug administration also reduced the time required for acquisition of the adaptive ability of spatial visual orientation in the labyrinth and restored the actinomycin D violated process of re-learning upon a change in the alternation of escape sites under free-choice conditions.