Pharmacological studies on Y-8894. (VII). Effects on transient cerebral ischemia-induced amnesia in rats

Abstract

The effects of Y-8894 on experimental amnesia in rats induced by transient cerebral ischemia (600 sec) according to the method of Pulsinelli and Brierley were studied using the one trial passive avoidance response and the pole climbing discrete avoidance response. All drugs were administered to the rats immediately after recirculation. The following results were obtained: 1) In the one trial passive avoidance response test, Y-8894 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) improved significantly the decreased latency induced by the ischemia, and it was most effective at 5 mg/kg. Calcium-hopantenate (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, i.p.) and dihydroergotoxine (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) tended to increase the latency. On the other hand, physostigmine (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), a cholinesterase inhibitor, increased the latency significantly, and it was most effective at 0.05 mg/kg. 2) The pole climbing discrete avoidance response was significantly decreased by the ischemia compared with the sham operated group, and Y-8894 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) tended to improve this decreased avoidance response. 3) Y-8894 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) facilitated recovery from the changes in glycolytic metabolism, and inhibited the accumulation of choline due to the dysfunction of the neuronal membranes induced by the ischemia. These results show that Y-8894 has beneficial effects on experimental amnesia induced by transient cerebral ischemia.