Phosphatidylserine reverses reserpine-induced amnesia

The effects of phosphatidylserine (PS) were studied in rats treated with re serpine (1 mg/kg) immediately after training in the passive avoidance task. In experiment I, phosphatidylserine (25 mg/kg) was administered 30 min bef ore or immediately after training. Acute pre- or post-treatment with phosph atidylserine was effective in reversing the amnestic effect of reserpine in test trials performed 24 h and 1 week after training. Experiment II was pe rformed to determine if the long-term pretreatment with phosphatidylserine (25 mg/kg) for 7 days is able to protect the rats against the amnestic effe cts of reserpine in this task. The data show that phosphatidylserine revers es the impairment induced by reserpine in trials performed 74 h and 1 week after training. These results indicate that the memory deficits associated with catecholamine depletion caused by reserpine can be attenuated by acute pre- or post-training or by long-term pretreatment with this phospholipid. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.