title: Huprine X and huperzine A improve cognition and regulate some neurochemical processes related with Alzheimer's disease in triple transgenic mice (3xTg-AD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different studies have established that cholinergic neurodegeneration could be a major pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, enhancement of the central cholinergic neurotransmission has been regarded as one of the most promising strategies for the symptomatic treatment of AD, mainly by means of reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs). The cognitive-enhancing properties of both huprine X, a new AChEI, and the structurally related huperzine A, as well as their effects on the regulation of several neurochemical processes related to AD have been studied in triple transgenic mice (3xTg-AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven-month-old homozygous 3xTg-AD male mice, which received chronic intraperitoneal treatment with either saline, huprine X (0.12 µmol·kg(-1)) or huperzine A (0.8 µmol·kg(-1)) were subjected to a battery of behavioural tests after 3 weeks of treatment and thereafter the brains were dissected to study the neurochemical effects induced by the two AChEIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatments with huprine X and huperzine A improved learning and memory in the Morris water maze and some indicators of emotionality without inducing important adverse effects. Moreover, huprine X and huperzine A activate protein kinase C/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway signalling, α-secretases (ADAM 10 and TACE) and increase the fraction of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3-β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results obtained herein using a sample of 3xTg-AD animals strongly suggest that the treatment with the two AChEIs not only improves the cognitive performance of the animals but also induces some neurochemical changes that could contribute to the beneficial effects observed.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giménez-Llort
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Camps
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Torrero
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Clos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badia
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C404518:huprine X; C050426:huperzine A