Effects of anticholinergics on serial-probe recognition accuracy of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
Potential deleterious behavioral effects of the anticholinergics biperiden and scopolamine were examined via the performance of rhesus monkeys on a serial-probe recognition (SPR) procedure. On each trial, six unique stimuli (list items) were presented sequentially followed by a choice phase. In the choice phase, two stimuli were presented, a standard or 'default' stimulus (a white rectangle) and a 'probe' stimulus that differed with each choice trial. Choosing the probe stimulus was considered correct if the probe matched one of the list items; otherwise, choosing the default stimulus was considered correct. Behavior was examined under a range of doses of biperiden (0.001-1.0 mg/kg) and scopolamine (0.0056-0.03 mg/kg). Scopolamine (0.01-0.03 mg/kg) and biperiden (0.3-1.0 mg/kg) reduced overall accuracy. At the highest dose, scopolamine, but not biperiden, reduced the number of trials completed per session. The results suggest that doses of scopolamine and biperiden necessary to prevent or eliminate organophosphate induced seizures may affect performance adversely. However, because the degree of impairment from biperiden was modest, further examination of this anticonvulsant may be warranted.
Myers
Todd M
TM
Division of Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA.
Galbicka
Gregory
G
Sipos
Maurice L
ML
Varadi
Suzanne
S
Oubre
John L
JL
Clark
Matthew G
MG
D000818:Animals; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists