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Behavioural effects of PNU ‐282987 and stress in an animal model of A lzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Vicens Paloma,
Heredia Luis,
Torrente Margarita,
Domingo José L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psychogeriatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1479-8301
pISSN - 1346-3500
DOI - 10.1111/psyg.12189
Subject(s) - morris water navigation task , cholinergic , anxiety , agonist , disease , neuroscience , nicotinic agonist , psychology , serotonergic , cognition , receptor , medicine , pharmacology , psychiatry , serotonin
Background Cholinergic deficits play an important role in both cognitive and behavioural alterations in A lzheimer's disease. This study was aimed at evaluating the possible therapeutic role of PNU ‐282987 ( PNU ), an α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonist, and the possible effects of stress in precipitating the onset of behavioural deficits in animals with susceptibility to A lzheimer's disease. Methods B 6 C 3‐ T g mice with susceptibility to A lzheimer's disease and wild‐type mice either with or without restraint stress received 0‐ or 1‐mg/kg PNU . At 12 months old, mice were evaluated for activity levels, anxiety‐like levels, and spatial learning and memory. Results Data did not show the effects of PNU on activity and anxiety‐like behaviour. No effect of PNU on acquisition of a spatial learning task was detected, but a reversal of stress effects on retention in the M orris water maze was observed in transgenic mice. Conclusions Further studies are needed in order to better understand the role of α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonists in motor activity, anxiety, and spatial learning and memory and to develop more accurate pharmacological treatment of psychopathological diseases.