Neuroprotective effect of liraglutide and memantine in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of memantine combined with liraglutide on aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and D-galactose (D-GAL)-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each: the positive control, the negative control, the memantine-treated group, the liraglutide-treated group, and the combination group treated with memantine and liraglutide. AlCl₃ and D-GAL were used to induce neurotoxicity. Behavioral tests, brain beta-amyloid protein, and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. Results: The Morris water maze test indicated an enhanced memory in the combination group. Moreover, the combination treatment of liraglutide and memantine resulted in a remarkable reduction in the beta-amyloid protein level in the brain tissue. Neuronal inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers were significantly reduced, and the levels of antioxidant parameters were enhanced. Conclusions: The combination of liraglutide and memantine exerts neuroprotective effects and enhances memory and cognitive functions in rats with Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease / Cognitive function / Glucagon-like peptide-1 / Liraglutide / Memantine

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the technical and financial support.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant No. G:455-248-1442. The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks the DSR for its technical and financial support.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request.

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, DMB, FWA, ZAD and SMA; Formal analysis, FWA, MOB, AMB, MHJ, MAB and RMM; Investigation, FWA, MOB, AMB, MHJ, MAB, FOK and RMM; Methodology, DMB and FWA; Resources, SMA; Supervision, DMB, ZAD and SMA; Writing – original draft, DMB and FWA; Writing – review & editing, MOB, AMB, MHJ, MAB, FOK, RMM, ZAD and SMA.

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