Spermidine improves fear memory persistence.

Persistence is the most characteristic attribute of long-term memory (LTM). For memory persistence, a second late event of consolidation, that occurs around 12h after the acquisition, is necessary. Although the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been involved in the persistence of memory, whether endogenous modulators of the NMDA receptor actually modulate memory persistence is unknown. In the current study we investigated whether spermidine and arcaine, respectively agonist and antagonist of polyamine binding site at NMDA receptor, alter the persistence of the memory of contextual fear conditioning task in rats. While 12h post-training administration of spermidine (10 and 30mg/kg, i.p.) facilitated, arcaine (10mg/kg, i.p.) impaired the memory of fear assessed 2 and 7 days after training. Arcaine (0.1mg/kg) prevented the facilitatory effect of spermidine (10mg/kg, i.p.), and spermidine (1mg/kg), prevented the memory impairment induced by arcaine (10mg/kg, i.p.) when tested 2 and 7 days after training. These results suggest that endogenous polyamines improve the persistence of fear memory.

Alkaloids, amides and antispasmodic activity of Zanthoxylum hyemale.

Two quinoline alkaloids, (-)-R-geilbalansine (1) and hyemaline (2), as well as aromatic amide, N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methoxyethyl)-2-methoxyethyl]benzamide (O-methylbalsamide) (3), were isolated as new natural products from the stem barks of Zanthoxylum hyemale, together with seven known compounds. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data (IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, MS). In addition, the antispasmodic activity of the crude extract of Z. hyemale and three other more abundant isolated compounds (4, 5 and 10) were studied in two different antispasmodic test models on isolated rat ileum and only the crude ethanolic extract presented antispasmodic activity.