Antiamnesic activity of the nicotinic agonist DBO-83 in mice

The effect of administration of DBO-83 on memory processes was evaluated in the mouse passive avoidance test. DBO-83 (1-5 mgkg(-1) ip) prevented amnes ia induced by scopolamine (1.5 mgkg(-1) ip), mecamylamine (20 mgkg(-1) ip) and dihydro-beta-erythroidine (10 mu g per mouse i.c.v.). In the same exper imental conditions, DBO-83 (10 mgkg(-1) ip) also prevented baclofen (2 mgkg (-1) ip), clonidine (0.125 mgkg(-1) ip) and diphenhydramine (20 mgkg(-1) ip ) amnesia in mice. The antiamnesic effect of DBO-83 was comparable to that exerted by nicotine (2 mgkg(-1) ip), physostigmine (0.2 mgkg(-1) ip), and t he nootropic drug, piracetam (30 mgkg(-1) ip). In the antiamnesic dose-rang e, DBO-83 did not impair mouse motor coordination and spontaneous motility, as revealed, respectively, by the Animex apparatus and rotarod test. These results demonstrated the ability of DBO-83 to modulate memory functions an d suggest that DBO-83 could be useful in the treatment of cognitive deficit s. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.