title: Effect of donepezil and lercanidipine on memory impairment induced by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin in rats.
abstract: Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) causes cognitive impairment in rats. ICV STZ is known to impair cholinergic neurotransmission by decreasing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) levels, glucose and energy metabolism in brain and synthesis of acetyl CoA. However, no reports are available regarding the cholinesterase inhibitors in this model. In aging brain, reduced energy metabolism increases glutamate release, which is blocked by L-type calcium channel blockers. These calcium channel blockers have shown beneficial effects on learning and memory in various models of cognitive impairment. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of chronic administration of donepezil (cholinesterase inhibitor, 1 and 3 mg/kg) and lercanidipine (L-type calcium channel blocker, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg) on cognitive impairment in male Sprague-Dawley rats injected twice with ICV STZ (3 mg/kg) bilaterally on days 1 and 3. ICV STZ injected rats developed a severe deficit in learning and memory indicated by deficits in passive avoidance paradigm and elevated plus maze as compared to control rats. Cholinesterase activity in brain was significantly increased in ICV STZ injected rats. Donepezil dose-dependently inhibited cholinesterase activity and improved performance in memory tests at both the doses. Lercanidipine (0.3 mg/kg) showed significant improvement in memory. When administered together, the effect of combination of these two drugs on memory and cholinesterase activity was higher than that obtained with either of the drugs when used alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar 160062, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Swapnil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonkusare
authors.forename: Krishnamoorthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: Chamanlal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: Poduri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramarao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D013311:Streptozocin; D000077265:Donepezil; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; C060343:lercanidipine