Figure 3.

Dose–response of (−)epicatechin and comparison with memantine: effects on water maze learning. Mice were given (−)epicatechin (0, 3, 15, or 30 mg/d) or memantine (0.6 mg/d) in drinking water for 3 weeks. A, Mice were trained in the Morris water maze with four trials per day for 8 d between days 23 and 30. Acquisition of the task did not differ between control (CON), 3 mg (E3), 15 mg (E15), and 30 mg (E30) of (−)epicatechin or memantine (MEM). B, Retention of the task was significantly improved in the E3 and E15 mice. In the 60 s probe trial on day 8, the E3 and E15 groups spent more time in the target area (NW) than in the other quadrants (p < 0.03), whereas CON, E30, and MEM mice did not show a significant preference for the NW quadrant. Error bars indicate SEM. NW, Northwest; NE, northeast; SE, southeast; SW, southwest.