Methylene blue restores spatial memory retention impaired by an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase in rats

Cytochrome oxidase is the mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the utilization of oxygen for the electron transport chain during cellular respiration. Chronic subcutaneous infusion of sodium azide, an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase, produced a spatial memory retention deficit in rats in a holeboard maze. Methylene blue, which has been shown to increase oxygen consumption in vitro, was used to restore mitochondrial electron transport in order to facilitate memory consolidation. Administration of 1 mg/kg methylene blue after training, during the memory consolidation period, completely restored the memory retention impaired by the inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase. This suggests that methylene blue may compensate for impaired mitochondrial respiration and improve spatial memory retention. Memory retention deficits found in some neurodegenerative diseases may be improved by drugs targeting impaired mitochondrial respiration. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.