title: Effect of huperzine A on working memory in reserpine- or yohimbine-treated monkeys.
abstract: The effect of huperzine A, a reversible and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on reserpine- or yohimbine-induced spatial working memory deficits in monkeys has been examined using the delayed response task that depends on the integrity of prefrontal cortex. Reserpine (0.1 mg/kg, i.m.) or yohimbine (0.01 mg/kg, i.m.) led to significant impairments in the monkeys' ability to perform the delayed response task. Huperzine A (0.01 mg/kg, i.m. in reserpine-treated monkeys; 0.01-0.1 mg/kg, i.m. in yohimbine-treated monkeys) significantly improved the reserpine- or yohimbine-induced memory impairments. The effect of huperzine A on memory impairments exhibited an inverted U-shaped dose-response pattern. Our data suggest that huperzine A may improve working memory via an adrenergic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Behavior Section, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D015016:Yohimbine; D012110:Reserpine