The effect of piracetam on behavioral reactions of adult rats and morphological changes in the brain after whole body fractionated gamma irradiation: an exploratory study.

This research was aimed at examining the effect of piracetam on behavioral reactions and morphological changes in the brain of adult rats after fractionated gamma irradiation with a total dose of 5 Gy. Fractionated gamma irradiation led to a decrease in freezing behavior in the Open Field and leukopenia. These behavioral and hematological disorders were accompanied by a cell decrease in the cross-sectional area of granular layer of the dentate gyrus, an increase in the number of Fluoro Jade B-positive cells, and an increase in the number of irreversible changes in the cerebral cortex. The administration of piracetam immediately after irradiation for 14 days maintained the freezing behavior at the level of intact animals and decreased in general motor activity. Also, an increase in morphometric parameters and a decrease of neurodegeneration were observed. We found a statistically significant decrease in the number of Fluoro Jade B-positive cells in comparison with the group of irradiated animals. The drug had no leukoprotective effect on laboratory animals, and led to the emergence of inconclusive trends in the alternation of the arms of the T-labyrinth. Piracetam application showed positive behavioral and morphological changes in rodents and might have a neuroprotective effect in brain tissue after gamma irradiation. Since it is the first experiment with piracetam we attempted, this exploratory study serves to provide more insight into the potential neuroprotection activity of piracetam, and following research is necessary.