PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MODULATION OF GABA RECEPTOR ACTIVITY IN EXPERIMENTAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

The annual increase in the number of older people in the world leads to the fact that diseases associated with human aging are becoming increasingly relevant. Existing and new data indicate a significant role of the GABA-ergic system in the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. In particular, it is known that the use of GABA-ergic compounds is associated with improved cognition. Some of the nootropics counteract the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid through the activation of GABA-ergic neurotransmission and themselves exhibit anti-amyloidogenic effects, which leads to a decrease in its deposition. Nevertheless, there are still many unclear questions, the answers to which could contribute to the prevention and treatment of the pathology.Objective of the work was to study the effect of carbacetam, as a modulator of GABA receptors, on behavioral response of rats of different ages with scopolamine induced Alzheimer’s disease.Material and methods. The experiments were conducted on nonlinear albino mature and old male rats. Alzheimer’s disease was simulated by scopolamine hydrochloride (Sigma, USA) introduced intraperitoneally (i/p) in the dose of 1 mg/kg of the body weight once a day for 27 days. On the 28th day, carbacetam was introduced intraperitoneally at a dose of 5 mg/kg once a day during 14 days. The functional state of the central nervous system was assessed by the behavioral response of rats in “open field” and conditioned passive avoidance reflex (CPAR) tests. The results were processed statistically by means of the t-Student criterion. The differences were considered statistically confident with р≤0,05.Results. Based on our research, we established that carbacetam positively changes indicators of motor, orientation-learning activity, emotional reactions and vegetative behavior in rats with Alzheimer’s disease. An increased latent period of entrance into the dark block after the introduction of carbacetam reflects effective maintenance of the conditioned passive avoidance reflex to electric painful stimulation. It demonstrates the improvement of cognitive function of rats of different ages with Alzheimer’s disease promoted by the new endogenic modulator of the GABA-ergic system.Conclusion. Modulation of GABA receptors with carbacetam confirms the suggestion concerning their role in the mechanisms of adaptation, learning activity and memory in rats of different age with experimental Alzheimer’s disease.