title: TRH attenuates scopolamine-induced memory impairment in humans.
abstract: The brain tripeptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has been demonstrated to facilitate cholinergic neurotransmission. To test its interaction with the cholinergic system in humans, high-dose TRH (0.5 mg/kg) or placebo was administered intravenously (IV) to normal controls pretreated with scopolamine (0.5-0.75 mg IV), a centrally active muscarinic antagonist, which has been used to model aspects of the memory impairment of normal aging and of dementia. Compared to placebo, TRH markedly attenuated scopolamine-induced impairment of some measures of memory, most notably on a selective reminding task. This cognitive study is the first in humans to suggest a neuromodulatory effect of a peptide on the cholinergic system, and suggests a facilitatory role for TRH in human memory processes.
authors.affiliation: Unit on Geriatric Psychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Molchan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mellow
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Weingartner
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sunderland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D012601:Scopolamine