Oxiracetam prevents the MK-801 induced amnesia for the elevated plus-maze in mice.
We investigated the effect of the nootropic substance oxiracetam on the impairment of memory induced in mice by the non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801. Memory capacities of animals having different experience were evaluated using the elevated plus-maze test. Oxiracetam was injected immediately after the acquisition session(s), MK-801 was given 30 min before the retention session which followed 24 h after the acquisition session(s). In slightly experienced animals (Section 3.1), oxiracetam (3 and 30 mg/kg, s.c.) prevented MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg, i.p.) induced memory deficits characterized by a prolongation of the transfer latency. In well-trained animals (Section 3.2), oxiracetam (30 mg/kg, s.c.) attenuated MK-801 (0.15,0. 25 and 0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) induced amnesia for a spatial orientation in the elevated plus-maze. These results show that oxiracetam interacted with the glutamatergic NMDA receptor system and forestalled the impairment of retrieval of long-term memory. The results also justify the usage of the elevated plus-maze method in the evaluation of potential anti-amnesic or nootropic drugs.
Hlinák
Z
Z
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídenská 1083, 142 20 4, Prague, Czech Republic.
Krejcí
I
I
D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; C040619:oxiracetam