COMBINED EFFECT OF SODIUM BENZOATE AND D-SERINE ON LEARNING AND MEMORY IN MICE

D-serine, a D-amino acid (DAA) and an endogenous co-agonist at the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor in the brain have potential role in learning and memory processes. Depletion of D-serine by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is associated with learning and memory impairments and D-serine when given alone produces nephrotoxicity. In this work our aim is to study the combined effect of D-serine and sodium benzoate on learning and memory in mice. This combination can minimize the D-serine induced toxicity. The effect of D-serine and sodium benzoate on learning and memory using passive avoidance test and elevated plus maze in scopolamine induced cognitive dysfunction in mice is studied. The combined effect of D-Serine and Sodium benzoate could improve the memory by decreases the escape and transfer latency in passive avoidance and elevated plus maze tests. This combination minimizes the D-serine induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice. Moreover plasma creatinine and urea levels also found to be decreased. Gene expression study also shows some beneficial effects in this combination. In the present experiment, we have examined the combined effects of sodium benzoate (2%), a competitive inhibitor of DAAO and D-Serine WO