Learning deficits induced by 4 belladonna alkaloids
are preferentially attenuated by tacrine
by
Pan SY, Han YF.
Department of Pharmacology,
Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Beijing 100029, China.
Acta Pharmacol Sin 2000 Feb;21(2):124-30

ABSTRACT

AIM: To examine the antagonism of tacrine on the amnesic effects of scopolamine (Sco), anisodine (AT3), atropine (Atr), and anisodamine (Ani). METHODS: Cognitive functions and locomotor activities were determined using two sessions of step-through and open-field tests, respectively. Mice were injected with one of the belladonna alkaloids (0.05-50 mumol.kg-1, i.p.) and tacrine (50 mumol.kg-1, s.c.) 30 min before the first session. RESULTS: Tacrine completely blocked the avoidance-learning deficit caused by Sco 0.5 mumol.kg-1, AT3 and Atr 5 mumol.kg-1, or Ani 50 mumol.kg-1. But tacrine partly antagonized the learning deficit induced by Sco 5-50 mumol.kg-1 or Atr and AT3 50 mumol.kg-1. The avoidance-memory deficit caused by Sco 0.05-5 mumol.kg-1 or Atr 5 mumol.kg-1 was completely or partly attenuated by tacrine, which did not antagonize the memory deficit elicited by Sco and Atr 50 mumol.kg-1, AT3 5 and 50 mumol.kg-1, and Ani 50 mumol.kg-1. During the acquisition, the locomotor activity of the mice was inhibited by tacrine. This reduction was completely antagonized by Sco 0.5-50 mumol.kg-1, AT3 5-50 mumol.kg-1, Atr 5-50 mumol.kg-1, and only partly antagonized by AT3 and Atr 0.5 mumol.kg-1 or Ani 50 mumol.kg-1. CONCLUSION: Compared with the avoidance-memory deficit, the avoidance-learning deficit caused by belladonna alkaloids is more preferentially attenuated by tacrine.

Tacrine
Piracetam
Idebenone
Vinpocetine
Vasopressin
Desmopressin
Meclofenoxate
New brain cells
Centrophenoxine
The memory switch?
Dumb-drug euphoria
Growing new brain cells
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Alzheimer's Disease: resources and hotlinks
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors : a tacrine analogue

Refs
HOME
HedWeb
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Utopian Pharmacology
SMART DRUGS 2: review
The Hedonistic Imperative
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family