Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which also showed effects
on memory and cholinergic activity. This study was conducted to determine the effect of
filgrastim on memory in Rat Model of scopolamine induced memory dysfunction.
Materials and Methods: 24 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group I: control
rats receiving normal saline. Group II: rats induced Alzheimer disease by injection of
Scopolamine. Groups III and IV: AD rats treated with 50 and 70 μg/kg/day intraperitoneally
(i.p) filgrastim over a period of two weeks. Then, rats trained with four trials per day for 5
consecutive days in the Morris water maze (MWM) to find a hidden platform. Time elapsed for
finding the hidden platform were considered as criteria for learning. On the 6th day, memory
retention was evaluated by time spent in target quadrant.Results: In Scopolamine groups,
escape latency during training trials showed a significant decrease (P< 0.001) and these rats
spent shorter time in the target quadrant in probe trials compared to controls(P< 0.001).
treatment of scopolamine group by filgrastim in doses of 50 and 70 μg/kg/day significantly
reduced the latency time to finding the escape platform (P< 0.01). And in probe trials, on the
last day of training, the filgrastim –treated group spent significantly longer time in the platform
quadrant when compared with the scopolamine induced AD animals (P< 0.01).Conclusion:
filgrastim acted as a memory enhancer in scopolamine induced Alzheimer rats. This cognitive
enhancer effect of filgrastim may be attributed to its cholinergic effect.