TY - JOUR T1 - Protective Effect of L-Arginine against Oxidative Damage as a Possible Mechanism of its Bene.cial Properties on Spatial Learning in Ovariectomized Rats TT - JF - BCN JO - BCN VL - 3 IS - 5 UR - http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/article-1-281-en.html Y1 - 2012 SP - 36 EP - 44 KW - Learning KW - Ovariectomy KW - L-Arginine KW - Morris Water Maze KW - Rat KW - Oxidative Stress. N2 - Introduction: The role of ovarian hormones and nitric oxide (NO) on oxidative damage in brain tissues as well as learning and memory has been widely investigated.The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the precursor of NO, L-Arginine on learning and brain damage due to oxidative stress in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.Methods: Thirty -two rats were divided into four groups: 1) Sham, 2) OVX, 3) Sham-L-Arginine (Sham-LA) and 4) OVX-L-Arginine(OVX-LA).  The animals of sham- LA and OVX-LA were treated with 500 mg/kg of L-Arginine. The animals in Sham and OVX groups received 1 ml/kg saline. The animals were tested in Morris water maze and .nally, the brains were removed and MDA and total thiol concentrations were measured.Results: The escape latency and swimming path in OVX group were signi.cantly higher than in Sham group (p M3 ER -