title: Effects of suberogorgin and its derivates on learning and memory in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between the effects of suberogorgin (Sub) and its derivates on memory and their anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) actions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The step-down latency (SDL) and the escape latency (EL) of mice were determined at the same time in a passive avoidance task after Sub, N-suberogorgamide-N-N-dicyclohexyl urea (Sub-DU), or N-cyclohexyl suberogorgamide (N-CS) was injected i.p. The AChE activities in brain hemogenates were determined with colorimetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sub 1.9, Sub-DU 3.0, or physostigmine (Phys) 0.15 mg.kg-1 obviously lengthened the SDL by 195%, 271%, and 210%, and shortened the EL by 56%, 61%, and 33%, and the two formers inhibited the brain AChE activities by 17% and 19%, respectively in aging (3-4 months) mice. These actions were decreased in a dose-dependent manner when Sub or Sub-DU was increased to 2.9-4.3 or 4.5-6.7 mg.kg-1 respectively. Sub 1.9, Sub-DU 2.0, and Phys 0.15 mg.kg-1 also lengthened the SDL by 187%, 209%, and 152%, and shortened the EL by 52%, 62%, and 57%, respectively in aged (12-14 months) mice. Sub 1.3-1.9, Sub-DU 0.9-2.0, or Phys 0.15 mg.kg-1 reversed the cycloheximide- or scopolamine-induced disruptions of memory retention. No obvious effect of N-CS on the acquisition of memory and the AChE activity in mice was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improvements of Sub and Sub-DU on memory were chiefly related to their anti-AChE actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C049055:suberogorgin; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase