[Changes in the activity of amyloid-degrading metallopeptidases leads to disruption of memory in rats].

In old male Wistar rats (older than 12 months), or adult males (3-4 months) subjected to prenatal hypoxia (7% 02, 3 h, E14), a disruption of short-term memory was observed. The prenatal hypoxia also led to a decrease in the brain cortex expression of metallopeptidases neprilysin (NEP) and endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE-1) which regulate some neuropeptides and are the main beta-amyloid-degrading enzymes. Moreover, a significant decrease (by 2.