title: Influence of nootropic drugs on the learning- and memory-impairing effect of diethyldithiocarbamate in albino rats.
abstract: The effects of four nootropic drugs (piracetam, aniracetam, meclofenoxate and fipexide) on the impaired cognitive functions by the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) were investigated in albino rats. The changes in learning and memory were studied by the two-way active avoidance with punishment reinforcement (shuttle box). DDC injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 300 mg/kg in the course of the 5-day shuttle box training significantly impaired learning and retention. The 10-day treatment (5 days before and 5 days during training) with piracetam 600 mg/kg, aniracetam 50 mg/kg, meclofenoxate 100 mg/kg and fipexide 10 mg/kg completely abolished the learning- and memory-impairing effect of DDC. The role of the NA-ergic neurotransmitter system for the DDC-induced disturbances in cognition as well as for the protective effects of nootropic drugs was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Genkova
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lazarova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D004050:Ditiocarb