Anseculin improves passive avoidance learning of aged mice.
Anseculin is a new coumarine derivative with promising cognition improving properties. We investigated its possible effects on passive avoidance learning in young and aged mice and the possible relationship to its alpha(1)-antagonistic properties.A single dose of anseculin did not affect long-term memory of young and aged mice. Moreover, in young mice, subchronic treatment with anseculin had no effect on cognitive functions, whereas aged, cognitively impaired mice clearly showed improved long-term memory with no effects on short-term memory. Further biochemical studies of aged control mice showed in comparison to the young mice a significant decrease of central alpha(1)-adrenoceptors density, but unchanged alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-mediated IP hydrolysis. Subchronic treatment with anseculin had no effect on the density of central alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in young adult mice and only a small although not significant effect on the density of cognitively-impaired aged mice. Furthermore, anseculin has no effects on alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-mediated IP hydrolysis.
Knauber
J
J
Department of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Müller
W E
WE
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D001578:Benzopyrans; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D010879:Piperazines; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; C112452:Ensaculin; D011224:Prazosin