The possibility of adverse effect of Kv7-channel opener retigabine on memory processes in rats

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior 2017-10, Vol.75, p.170-175
• Main Authors: Zwierzyńska, Ewa, Krupa-Burtnik, Agata, Pietrzak, Bogusława
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Avoidance Learning - drug effects; Carbamates - adverse effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fear; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Phenylenediamines - adverse effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Spatial Memory - drug effects
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.08.004

Retigabine is a novel antiepileptic drug with a unique and complex mechanism of action which allows its use in many diseases associated with impaired neuronal activity. This study sought to examine the impact of retigabine on two types of memory in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were used to assess the effect of retigabine, administered p.o. as single (10mg/kg or 20mg/kg) or repeated doses, on spatial memory with the Morris water maze test (MWM) and emotional memory, associated with fear, with the passive avoidance test (PA). Retigabine administered at a high single dose transiently impairs learning processes in rats. In the MWM, these changes were delayed in time and of a lesser degree when retigabine was given at low single dose. Additionally, the drug administered repeatedly for 2weeks slowed learning processes in the MWM, but this effect occurred only after 1week of administration in the PA. These findings indicate that retigabine may affect memory and learning processes, especially in the first phase of administration. •Retigabine given at a high single dose transiently aggravates memory in rats.•Impairment of memory was less expressed after low single dose of retigabine.•Retigabine administered repeatedly slowed learning processes.