Neuropharmacological studies on repurposed utilization of pioglitazone in learning and memory: A dose related study.

Dose dependent effects of pioglitazone on memory revival and monoamine metabolism were monitored in this study. Pioglitazone is an antidiabetic drug showing potential for memory improvement. Rats were treated with three doses of pioglitazone i.e., 5, 10 and 15mg/kg and effects were monitored in Morris water maze test, Skinner's box, light dark activity box, forced swim test, elevated plus maze and open field apparatus. Results show memory enhancing effects of pioglitazone at all three doses, but these effects were potentiated at the dose of 10mg/kg. Apart from memory enhancing effects, pioglitazone treated rats also exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Biogenic amines and metabolites were estimated by reverse phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography with electrochemical detector (HPLC-EC). Effect of low (5mg/kg) dose of pioglitazone was found to be non-significant on dopamine metabolism but significant increase in dopamine metabolism was caused by moderate dose (10mg/kg). Results could be helpful in elucidating the effect of apomorphine at different doses and its implication for extending therapeutics in Parkinson's and related disorders.