First Author | Sansone M | Year | 1990 |
Journal | Pharmacol Biochem Behav | Volume | 36 |
Issue | 2 | Pages | 389-92 |
PubMed ID | 2356212 | Mgi Jnum | J:27922 |
Mgi Id | MGI:75556 | Doi | 10.1016/0091-3057(90)90420-m |
Citation | Sansone M, et al. (1990) Oxiracetam prevents mecamylamine-induced impairment of active, but not passive, avoidance learning in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 36(2):389-92 |
abstractText | The nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg/IP) depressed both active (shuttle-box) and passive (step-through) avoidance learning in mice of the DBA/2 strain. The nootropic drug oxiracetam (50 and 100 mg/kg/IP) improved acquisition in the multitrial active avoidance test, but had no effect on one-trial passive avoidance learning. When the two drugs were combined, oxiracetam did not counteract mecamylamine-induced impairment of passive avoidance learning, even if it maintained a facilitating action on shuttle-box avoidance acquisition in mice receiving the nicotinic receptor blocker. Prevention of mecamylamine-induced shuttle-box avoidance depression by oxiracetam indicates that central nicotinic mechanisms are probably involved in the improving effects exerted by nootropic drugs on learning. |