title: Oxiracetam prevents haloperidol-induced passive avoidance impairment in mice.
abstract: The nootropic drug oxiracetam (50 mg/kg) prevented passive avoidance impairment induced by posttraining administration of haloperidol (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg). Conversely, oxiracetam did not antagonize either locomotor depression or suppression of active avoidance responses induced by the dopamine receptor blocking agent. The results indicate that prevention of haloperidol-induced retention impairment, by oxiracetam, may be due to a not yet defined protective action, common to other nootropic agents, on different types of experimental amnesias, rather than to a specific interaction with dopaminergic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Psicobiologia e Psicofarmacologia, CNR, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sansone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D006220:Haloperidol; C040619:oxiracetam