Amelioration of age-related neurochemical and behavioral deficits by 3,4-diaminopyridine.
Alterations of the cholinergic system may be responsible for age-related changes in behavior. The in vitro calcium dependent release of acetylcholine and tight rope test performance decline in parallel during senescence. 3,4-Diaminopyridine, which enhances calcium influx by nerve terminals, diminishes these age-related alterations. In aged mice (30 month old), 3,4-diaminopyridine increases the calcium dependent release of acetylcholine (260%) and improves tight rope test performance (428%). These results support the hypothesis that alterations in calcium homeostasis underlie some of the cholinergic and behavioral deficits that accompany senescence.
D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging; D000077770:Amifampridine; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000631:Aminopyridines; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000077770:Amifampridine