title: Are NMDA antagonistic properties relevant for antiparkinsonian-like activity in rats?--case of amantadine and memantine.
abstract: Amantadine (25, 50, 100 mg/kg), memantine (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) and MK-801 (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg/kg), all having NMDA channel blocking properties, were compared in three tests used for screening of antiparkinsonian agents in rats, namely: haloperidol-induced catalepsy, locomotor activity in monoamine depleted rats and rotation in rats with a unilateral substantia nigra lesion. Additionally, plasma levels of amantadine and memantine were assessed to gain an insight into the concentration ranges achieved at behaviorally active doses. Amantadine and (+)-MK-801 produced dose-dependent inhibition of haloperidol-induced catalepsy while memantine was less efficacious producing clear-cut anticataleptic action at a dose of 10 mg/kg only but failing at 20 mg/kg due to myorelaxant activity. All agents attenuated sedation in monoamine depleted rats with amantadine being the least and MK-801 being the most effective. The same rank order of efficacy was seen in inducing ipsilateral rotations in rats after a substantia nigra lesion. On the basis of the present study and published data, it can be assumed that the doses of amantadine, memantine and MK-801 showing antiparkinsonian-like activity in animals result in plasma levels leading to NMDA antagonism. However, in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy test the efficacy of amantadine was higher than memantine, while the opposite was true for rotation and reserpine-induced sedation indicating pharmacodynamic differences between both agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Merz+Co, Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Danysz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gossel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zajaczkowski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dill
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quack
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012399:Rotation; D013378:Substantia Nigra
chemical_list: D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D000547:Amantadine; D008559:Memantine