Effect of combined administration of aripiprazole and fluoxetine on cognitive functions in female rats exposed to ethyl alcohol

Alcoholism is a chronic and recurrent disease. The studies on ethyl alcohol show a progressive deterioration of cognitive functions (motor hyperactivity, operating memory). The aim of the study was to establish whether combined single and chronic administration of aripiprazole (ARI) and fluoxetine (FLU) affects animal locomotor activity or modifies spatial memory functions in female rats exposed to ethyl alcohol. Female Wistar rats were studied in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and locomotor activity test. Rats undergoing the MWM and locomotor activity test were injected with saline on day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of testing. Results showed a statistically significant mobility increase in the group of ethanol‑exposed females (CEt) (21 days) compared to the non-ethanol-exposed group (CNEt). Upon ARI administration to CEt, no statistically significant differences in animal mobility were found, either upon single or chronic administration. Chronic administration of FLU (21 days) as well as combined administration of ARI+FLU (14 and 21 days) caused a statistically significant reduction of the females' mobility compared to the control CEt group. Single and chronic administration of ARI (7x) both show a spatial memory improvement in CEt. No memory improvement was observed, however, after 14 and 21 days of ARI administration. FLU, likewise, improved spatial memory both upon single and chronic administration. Combined administration of ARI+FLU improved memory in CEt only upon single administration. Lack of effect upon chronic administration may be due to tolerance to memory improvement developing upon combined administration of ARI+FLU. It can be concluded that ARI (1.5 mg/kg), FLU (5 mg/kg), and combined administration of these drugs improves spatial memory in CEt.