Low dose citalopram reverses memory impairment and electroconvulsive shock-induced immobilization.
Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is one of the most widely used antidepressants. Recently, citalopram has been reported to improve working memory in patients with depression, and psychotic symptoms and behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia. However, the possibility of using citalopram in the treatment of cognitive disorders has not received much attention. The present study investigated the effects of citalopram on scopolamine- and Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of spatial memory using an eight-arm radial maze and electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced immobilization (a behavioral model for the disturbance of consciousness). Low dose citalopram reversed both scopolamine- and THC-induced impairment of spatial memory, suppressed ECS-induced immobilization reversed the THC-induced decrease of acetylcholine (ACh) release in the dorsal hippocampus in vivo microdialysis, and enhanced tremors induced by oxotremorine, a muscarinic M1 receptor agonist. Taken together these findings suggest that low dose citalopram is useful for the treatment of memory deficits and consciousness disturbance.
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
Nobuaki
N
Egashira
Yoshiaki
Y
Matsumoto
Kenichi
K
Mishima
Katsunori
K
Iwasaki
Masayuki
M
Fujioka
Michihiko
M
Matsushita
Yukihiro
Y
Shoyama
Ryoji
R
Nishimura
Michihiro
M
Fujiwara
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013759:Dronabinol; D004597:Electroshock; D006213:Hallucinogens; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D017551:Microdialysis; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010095:Oxotremorine; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012601:Scopolamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology
D015283:Citalopram; D013759:Dronabinol; D006213:Hallucinogens; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010095:Oxotremorine; D012601:Scopolamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors