Galantamine improves chemobrain-induced spatial memory deficits in female rats via anti-inflammatory and cholinergic mechanisms

24. Ulusal Sinirbilim Kongresi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 9 - 13 Eylül 2026, ss.422-423, (Özet Bildiri)

Objectives: Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (chemobrain) is a debilitating neurocognitive syndrome with no approved

treatment. Doxorubicin induces neuroinflammation and disrupts cholinergic function. Galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

inhibitor, possesses additional anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the effects of galantamine on spatial memory,

hippocampal neuroinflammation, and AChE activity in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced chemobrain.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were divided into four groups: control, doxorubicin (4 mg/kg/week, i.p.),

doxorubicin + galantamine (2.5 mg/kg/day, oral), and doxorubicin + galantamine (5 mg/kg/day, oral). After four weeks, spatial

memory was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM). Hippocampal IL-1β and IL-10 levels, as well as AChE activity, were

measured by ELISA in all animals.

Results: Doxorubicin significantly impaired spatial memory: target quadrant time was reduced (p<0.05), latency to first entry was

prolonged (p<0.0001), and path efficiency was decreased (p<0.01). Doxorubicin increased hippocampal IL-1β levels (p<0.05) and

AChE activity (p<0.01), while decreasing IL-10 levels (p<0.05). Galantamine at 5 mg/kg significantly improved all spatial memory

parameters and reversed IL-1β elevation, AChE increase, and IL-10 reduction (p<0.05 for all).

Conclusion: Galantamine, particularly at 5 mg/kg, ameliorated doxorubicin-induced spatial memory deficits in this rat model, an

effect associated with the suppression of neuroinflammation and modulation of AChE activity. These findings suggest that

galantamine may be a promising candidate for further research into preventing chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment,

although clinical translation requires additional investigation.

Keywords: Chemobrain, doxorubicin, galantamine, neuroinflammation, spatial memory