Preserved Memory Function of Rats Following Fluorouracil Treatment

Chemotherapy is widely used to treat cancers, but can have undesirable secondary effects, such as cognitive impairment. Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent that is combined with other agents to treat different types of cancer, such as breast, prostate and brain cancer. 5-FU has been reported to pass the blood–brain barrier, but its effects on cognition are not yet well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 5-FU on memory function. 5-FU was injected intraperitoneally into rats. 5-FU did not impair memory function determined using the Y-maze and novel object recognition behavioral tests. Therefore, it is concluded that fluorouracil itself does not induce the memory impairment of chemobrain.