Reduction of motoric agitation and restlessness by AF102B and tacrine in the macaque.
The cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine (THA) and the M1 muscarinic agonist AF102B (cevimeline), both reported to enhance cognition in animals and humans, were tested in 5 macaques for reduction of spontaneous, random movements. Monkeys were videotaped 1 hour after administration of normal saline vehicle, after low- and high-dose intramuscular AF102B, and after low- and high-dose oral THA. Two independent blind judges counted numbers of spontaneous movements made by each monkey over 12 consecutive 15-second segments for each drug condition. Both THA and AF102B reduced movement significantly at high doses without overt side effects, warranting further research on the agitation-reducing potential of cognition-enhancing cholinomimetic drugs.
Fitten
L J
LJ
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Sepulveda Medical Centers, Los Angeles, California, USA. jfitten@ucla.edu
Ortiz
F
F
Siembieda
D W
DW
O'Neill
J
J
Halgren
E
E
Fisher
A
A
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008255:Macaca radiata; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013619:Tacrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes