Agomelatine (AGN) is an antidepressant, due to its activity on serotonin receptor (5-HT2c) as an antagonist, and It has a distinct role on sleep due to its activity on melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2 receptors) as an agonist. This research investigated the role of AGN in long-term memory enhancement, and in prophylaxis of long-term memory deficit induced by Scopolamine (SCP). Evaluation of long-term memory depends on calculation of latency time in target quadrant in Morris water maze (MWM) test and depends on calculation of index of latency in Passive avoidance (PA) Task.
This study showed that AGN raised latency time in target quadrant in Morris water maze test with a very important difference (P<0.0001) as compared to SCP group. But, AGN didn't increase latency time in target quadrant (P>0.05) as compared to normal control group. AGN increased index of latency in Passive Avoidance task with a statistical difference (P<0.05) as compared to SCP group. But it didn't have a statistical difference (P>0.05) in index of latency as compared to normal control group.
AGN had a prophylactic effect on long-term memory in two different memory tests. And this refers to the possibility of the usage of AGN in prophylaxis of memory deficit which accompanied with depression and insomnia; However, it didn't have an enhancing effect on long-term memory thus the usage of AGN for enhancement of memory in healthy people needs more evidence.
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