Abstract
When injected IP, the M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine dose-dependently induced a deficit in passive avoidance learning in rats. This activity was optimal at 75 mg/kg injected 1 h before the acquisition session. The deficit induced by pirenzepine was antagonized by oxotremorine (0.03–0.3 mg/kg SC) and physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg SC), but not neostigmine. By comparison, under the same experimental conditions, physostigmine and oxotremorine also antagonized the deficit induced by an equipotent dose of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg IP), although the activity of physostigmine appeared stronger against scopolamine than against pirenzepine. These results suggest that pirenzepine could produce a centrally-mediated behavioural disruption when injected systemically.
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Worms, P., Gueudet, C., Pério, A. et al. Systemic injection of pirenzepine induces a deficit in passive avoidance learning in rats. Psychopharmacology 98, 286–288 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00444707
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00444707