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Comparative effects of S9977‐2 versus tacrine on passive avoidance learning and psychomotor activity
Author(s) -
Alvarez X. A.,
Zas R.,
FernándezNovoa L.,
García M.,
Polo E.,
DétolleSarbach S.,
Guez D.,
Cacabelos R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199707/08)12:4<329::aid-hup867>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - tacrine , psychomotor learning , psychology , pharmacology , chemistry , anesthesia , medicine , neuroscience , cognition , biochemistry , acetylcholinesterase , enzyme
We have studied the time‐ and dose‐dependent effects of S9977‐2 versus tacrine (THA) on psychomotor activity (PMA) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) in intact 3‐month‐old rats. No significant changes were observed in the levels of PMA in animals tested 0, 30 and 60 min after i.p. injections of S9977‐2 (0·125 mg/kg) or THA (1 mg/kg). In a PAL maze paradigm, S9977‐2 and THA, administered 30, 60 and 120 min before testing, induced time‐dependent improvements in learning indices, with maximum effects during the first hour after administration. In the dose–response study, S9977‐2 (0·005, 0·025 and 0·125 mg/kg) tended to increase and THA (0·33, 1 and 3 mg/kg) to decrease PMA scores while the two compounds improved learning in a progressive dose‐related manner. The present results indicate that S9977‐2 and THA exert opposite actions on exploratory behaviour, S9977‐2 increasing this parameter and THA decreasing it, and that both molecules improve learning in a similar time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. On a molar basis S9977‐2 is 10–20 times more potent than THA in enhancing learning acquisition. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.