title: The effects of physostigmine and cholinergic receptor ligands on novelty-induced neophobia.
abstract: The aim of the study was to analyse in a well-established model of neophobia the effects of peripheral and central (ICV) administration of a prototypical and easily penetrating to the brain acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE-I)--physostigmine, hemicholinium, a selective blocker of the high affinity choline uptake sites, as well as muscarinic and nicotinic receptor ligands. Thus, an attempt was made to address the question whether anxiolytic-like effects of AChE-I, reported in the clinic, are directly related to the anti-emotional action. The effects of peripherally and centrally administrated cholinergic ligands on novelty-induced decrease in exploratory behaviour were examined in rats. It was found that in a limited dose-range physostigmine and nicotine given peripherally or ICV selectively disinhibited rat exploration in the open field, whereas scopolamine stimulated animal motor activity and increased thigmotaxis. Locomotor effects of physostigmine and nicotine appeared at the higher doses and could be easily separated from their anti-neophobic action. The rat's exploratory behaviour tended to be attenuated by central administration of hemicholinium (a choline uptake blocker), and it was significantly inhibited by mecamylamine (a nicotinic receptor antagonist), and pirenzepine (a selective M1 receptor antagonist). Gallamine, a selective M2 receptor antagonist, did not influence on animal novelty-induced anxiety-related behaviour. It is concluded that AChE-I can selectively affect brain emotional processes evoked by neophobia-related stimuli. Probably both nicotinic and M1 cholinergic receptors mediate such an action of AChE-I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sienkiewicz-Jarosz
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Członkowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siemiatkowski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maciejak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szyndler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Płaźnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology*; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D010890:Pirenzepine; D008464:Mecamylamine; D009538:Nicotine; D010830:Physostigmine; D012601:Scopolamine; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide