Facilitative effects of EGb 761 on olfactory recognition in young and agedrats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chronic and acu te treatment by the Gingko biloba extract, EGb 761 (IPSEN, France) on olfac tory short-term memory in rats, using a spontaneous recognition procedure. The effects of a daily EGb 761 treatment (30 or 60 mg/kg) over a period of 30 days (Experiment 1) were evaluated in young male rats. Those of a single injection of EGb 761 were assessed either in young male rats at 60 or 120 mg/kg (Experiment 2) or in aged female rats at 60 mg/kg (Experiment 3). Res ults showed that, at the highest dose (60 mg/kg), chronic EGb 761 treatment enhanced the recognition performances, allowing recognition at delays at w hich control animals did not show any recognition. Acute treatment enhanced recognition at both doses tested. The results of the third experiment show ed that EGb 761 had an overall enhancement effect on the performances of ag ed rats. In summary, our results provide evidence for a short-term memory e nhancement effect of EGb 761 in both young and aged rats. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.