Nootropic effects of ACE inhibitors in mice.
The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors captopril and enalapril and the nootropic piracetam reduced the amnesiogenic effects of cerebral electroshock treatment in mice. These compounds also directly improved passive-avoidance learning if administered before the learning trial. When given immediately after the learning trial, captopril and piracetam were active, but not enalapril. Captopril, but neither enalapril nor piracetam, facilitated memory retrieval after a 2-month retention interval. Unlike those of piracetam, the memory-improving effects of captopril and enalapril are not established by aldosterone-receptor blockade, suggesting that the two types of drug act via different mechanisms of action.
Mondadori
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C
Ciba-Geigy, Pharmaceutical Research Department, Basel, Switzerland.
Etienne
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P
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000647:Amnesia / Q000188:drug therapy; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004597:Electroshock; D004656:Enalapril / Q000494:pharmacology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010889:Piracetam / Q000494:pharmacology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000502:physiology; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D004656:Enalapril; D002216:Captopril; D010889:Piracetam