Original Research Paper

Pomegranate seed hydroalcoholic extract improves memory deficits in ovariectomized rats with permanent cerebral hypoperfusion /ischemia Alireza Sarkaki1,2, Yaghoub Farbood1,2*, Shieda Hashemi1, Maryam Rafiei Rad3 1

Dept. of Physiology, Medicine Faculty, Ahvaz Jundishpur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz-Iran Physiology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishpur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz-Iran. 3 Dept. of Biology, faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Izeh branch, Izeh-Iran. 2

Article history: Received: Jul 2, 2014 Received in revised form: Aug 8, 2014 Accepted: Nov 5, 2014 Vol. 5, No. 1, Jan-Feb 2015, 43-55. * Corresponding Author: Tel: +98-611-3738248 xaF: +98-611-3738248 ‎[email protected] Keywords: Ovariectomy Cerebral ischemia Pomegranate Memory Rat

Abstract Objectives: Estrogen deficit following menopause results in cognitive behaviors impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pomegranate seed extract (PGSE) on avoidance memories after permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (2CCAO) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Materials and Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were divided randomly into eight groups with 8 rats in each group: 1) Shamoperated for ovaries and 2CCAO (ShO); 2) OVX and sham operated for ischemia (OShI); 3-7) OVX with 2CCAO (OI) received PGSE (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/2ml/kg or normal saline, orally) for 14 days (OI+E100, 200, 400, 800 or OI+Veh); 8) OShI received most effective dose of PGSE (200 and 400 mg/kg for passive and active avoidance memories respectively). Active and passive avoidance tasks were measured in Y-maze and two-way shuttle box respectively. Data were analyzed with oneway and RM-ANOVA followed by HSD post-hoc test. Results: Sensorimotor impaired in OShI+Veh and OI+Veh (P