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A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of the effects of eptastigmine on scopolamine‐induced cognitive deficits in healthy male subjects
Author(s) -
Lines C. R.,
Ambrose J. H.,
Heald A.,
Traub M.
Publication year - 1993
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/hup.470080406
Subject(s) - placebo , cholinesterase , scopolamine , crossover study , anesthesia , butyrylcholinesterase , acetylcholinesterase , cognition , medicine , psychology , pharmacology , aché , chemistry , neuroscience , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , enzyme
This double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study examined the effects of two single doses of eptastigmine, a novel cholinesterase inhibitor, on scopolamine‐induced cognitive deficits in 24 healthy male volunteers. Each subject received the following treatment sequences, separated by at least 1 week, in a randomly assigned order: Text0h 2hPlaXcebo (p.o.) Placebo (i.m.) Placebo (p.o.) Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.) Eptastigmine (20 mg p.o.) Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.) Eptastigmine (32 mg p.o.) Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.)A battery of computerized cognitive tests, lasting approximately 1 h, were administered 30 min after the i.m. scopolamine/placebo injection. Subjective visual analogue scale ratings were undertaken immediately prior to the first treatment (eptastigmine/placebo) and on completion of the cognitive test battery. In addition, blood samples were taken immediately following the subjective ratings, and at 2 h (prior to the scopolamine/placebo injection), to determine peripheral acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity. Scopolamine‐induced deficits were found on a number of the cognitive tests and subjective ratings. Neither dose of eptastigmine significantly reversed or diminished these impairments. The two doses of eptastigmine produced the anticipated mean levels of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition (20 mg = 23 per cent; 32 mg = 37 per cent).