Antiamnesic and neuroprotective effects of low dose of Ramipril and Losartan in scopolamine-induced amnesia model of dementia

To investigate the potential role of ramipril and losartan in preventing scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. Memory impairment was induced in male Wistar rats by administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Rats received oral doses of ramipril (0.225 mg/kg) and losartan (2.25 mg/kg) for a period of four weeks. Passive avoidance paradigm was used to assess learning and memory. Biochemical estimations of malondialdehyde, glutathione transferase, protein thiols, and histological analysis of hippocampal morphology were performed to estimate the degree of oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration. Pre-treatment with ramipril and losartan reversed scopolamine-induced memory impairment, oxidative stress and hippocampal degeneration which were evident by the findings from behavioral, biochemical and histological studies.