Mitochondria-Targeted Plastoquinone Antioxidant SkQR1 Has Positive Effect on Memory of Rats

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E. V. Stelmashook^1,2, A. V. Stavrovskaya¹, N. G. Yamshchikova¹, A. S. Ol’shanskii¹, N. A. Kapay^1,2, O. V. Popova^1,2, L. G. Khaspekov¹, V. G. Skrebitsky¹, and N. K. Isaev^1,2,3*

¹Research Center of Neurology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Volokolamskoe Shosse 80, 125367 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: estelmash@mail.ru

²Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mitoengineering, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: info@skq-project.ru

³Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 939-3161; E-mail: isaev@genebee.msu.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received November 25, 2014

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A single intraperitoneal injection to rats of the mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone antioxidant SkQR1 at dose 1 µmol/kg significantly improved reproduction by the rats of the passive avoidance conditional reflex. In vitro experiments on hippocampal slices showed that a single intraperitoneal injection of SkQR1 24 h before the preparation of the slice significantly increases the synaptic transmission efficiency of the pyramidal neurons of the CA1 field. The findings indicate that SkQR1 has a positive effect on memory processes.

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KEY WORDS: memory, long-term potentiation, hippocampus, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, SkQR1

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915050119

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