Efecto en el aprendizaje y la memoria espacial de un péptido Sintético en ratas: estudio preliminar

This paper investigated the effects of a new peptide, designed from conan-tokins, as a possible pharmacophore of the NMDA receptor in learning and spatial memory in rats. The Morris Watermaze (1981) and Magnusson?s protocol (1998) were adapted and used. The methodology was repeated measures with one control and three experimental groups: Peptide, NMDA and MK-801. Subjects were 24 male Wistar rats between 8 and 9 months old, randomly assigned to groups, having free access to food and water, kept in a controlled temperature environment of 20 ± 25° C, and 12/12 light-darkness cycles, before and during the experiment. Results suggest that the designed peptide improves spatial memory and learning, compared to control and MK-801 (p < 0.05). 50% of subjects showed improvement in the NMDA group. Implications of these findings and possible extensions of this research are discussed, tending to validate the results of this preli-minary study