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The influence of piracetam and cholinomimetics on the passive avoidance behavior in the nucleus basalis lesioned rats

The nucleus basalis (NB) provides the primary cholinergic input to the cortical mantle. Destruction of these neurons produces marked decrease in choline acetyltransferase and acethylcholinesterase activity, in high-affinity choline uptake of the neocortex and cognitive deficit. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cholinomimetics (arecoline, lecithin) and nootropic drug piracetam on the passive avoidance behavior in the NB lesioned rats. The study was carried out on Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g. Anesthetized rats were placed in a stereotaxic apparatus. The coordinates for bilateral electrolytic NB lesion were: 0.7 mm posterior ; 2.7 mm lateral and 8.0 mm ventral to the bregma. The site of the lesion was histologically verified. Fifteen days later the passive avoidance task according to the procedure of Ashford and Jones (1976) was performed. A. total of four consecutive daily sessions were given. The behavior of the NB lesioned rats under the influence of various drugs was measured. The control animals received 0.9% NaCl solution. Other rats received piracetam (100 mg/kg or 2 g/kg) or lecithin (250 mg/kg) or arecoline hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) or combinations of piracetam (100 mg/kg or 2 g/kg) + lecithin or piracetam (100 mg/kg or 2 g/kg) + arecoline. All the tested drugs were given intraperitoneally once per day. Arecoline was injected 10 minutes and lecithin or piracetam 1 hr before the passive avoidance experiment starting in the course of four behavior testing days. The results of our experiments show that piracetam (100 mg/kg) or lecithin or arecoline alone or in combination improved the passive avoidance in the NB lesioned rats. Piracetam (2 g/kg) alone was ineffective, but in combinations with mentioned cholinomimetics antagonized the cognitive deficits in the lesioned rats.

nucleus basalis lesion; arecoline; lecithin; piracetam; passive avoidance; rat

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