ISSN:
1573-8221
Keywords:
scopolamine
;
piracetam
;
passive avoidance
;
exploratory activity
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats to assess (1) the effect of chronically administered (for 20 days) scopolamine on their learning capacity and memory 10 days after its last administration and (2) the influence of the nootropic piracetam, given for 10 days after scopolamine and before learning a conditioned passive avoidance response, on cognitive functions of the brain altered as a result of the M-cholinergic receptors being blocked by scopolamine. Scopolamine-dosed rats showed poor reproduction of the conditioned passive avoidance response when tested for this response at 24 h and 30 days after learning it, whereas those treated with piracetam after scopolamine retained the response well both at 24 h and at 30 days. Piracetam also restored the scopolamine-impaired acute extinction of orienting/exploratory activity in the rats.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02445892
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