Interactions between oxiracetam, aniracetam and scopolamine on behavior and brain acetylcholine.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav
; 27(3): 491-5, 1987 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-3659072
ABSTRACT
The effect of cognition-enhancing agents oxiracetam and aniracetam on scopolamine-induced amnesia and brain acetylcholine decrease was investigated in the rat. Acetylcholine levels were measured by means of a gas-chromatographic method. Scopolamine (0.63 mg/kg IP 60 min before training) prevented the acquisition of a passive avoidance conditioned response ("step through" retest 30 min after training) and brought about a 64, 56 and 42% decrease in acetylcholine level in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum respectively. Oxiracetam (50 and 100 mg/kg IP) administered 30 min before scopolamine reduced the scopolamine-induced amnesic effect and decrease in acetylcholine level in the cortex and hippocampus, but not in the striatum. Lower and higher doses of oxiracetam were ineffective. Aniracetam (100 mg/kg PO) also prevented scopolamine-induced amnesia but attenuated acetylcholine decrease in the hippocampus only. Aniracetam (300 mg PO) reduced acetylcholine decrease in the hippocampus but did not prevent scopolamine-amnesia. In conclusion, oxiracetam and aniracetam exert a stimulatory effect on specific central cholinergic pathways. However, a direct relationship between cognition-enhancing properties and cholinergic activation needs further confirmation.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pyrrolidines
/
Pyrrolidinones
/
Scopolamine
/
Avoidance Learning
/
Brain
/
Acetylcholine
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Pharmacol Biochem Behav
Year:
1987
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy