A. Iliev et al., Effect of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor galanthamine on learning and memory in prolonged alcohol intake rat model of acetylcholine deficit, METH FIND E, 21(4), 1999, pp. 297-301
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
METHODS AND FINDINGS IN EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Different cholinomimetics are used in conditions CNS acetylcholine (Ach) de
ficit. In this study, we examined the effect of the acetylcholinesterase in
hibitor galanthamine in a prolonged alcohol intake model of Ach deficit in
male Wistar rats. After 16 weeks of alcohol intake and a 2-week pause, rats
administered galanthamine (2.5 mg/kg/day i.p.) showed an improved speed of
learning and short-term memory in the shuttle box test as compared to the
saline-injected alcoholic group (p < 0.05). Four weeks later, significant i
mprovement in the passive avoidance memory of alcoholic galanthamine-treate
d rats was noted in the eight-arm radial maze (14 day test duration) as com
pared to the saline-injected alcoholic group (p < 0.05). During the first w
eek in the shuttle box test, the nonalcoholic galanthamine-treated animals
exhibited significantly impaired performance as compared to the untreated n
onalcoholic control, while four weeks later, in the eight-arm radial maze,
both groups did not differ. Our results show that galanthamine improves the
speed of learning, short-term memory and spatial orientation of rats in co
nditions of prolonged alcohol intake. (C) 1999 Prous Science. All rights re
served.