Scopolamine-treated Group Research Articles

The modulation by neurosteroids of the scopolamine-induced learning impairment in mice involves an interaction with sigma 1 ( σ1) receptors

Neurosteroids have been reported to modulate learning and memory processes in aged animals and in pharmacological models of amnesia. We report here the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), and progesterone (PROG) on the learning impairment induced in mice by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, scopolamine. Spatial working memory was examined using the spontaneous alternation behavior in a Y-maze and long-term memory using place learning in a rectangular water-maze adapted for mice. Both DHEAS and PREGS (5–20 mg/kg, s.c.) prevented dose-dependently and significantly the scopolamine (2 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced alternation deficits. PROG (2–20 mg/kg, s.c.) failed to affect the scopolamine-induced deficits, but blocked, at 20 mg/kg, the beneficial effects induced by DHEAS or PREGS. In the water-maze, DHEAS (20 mg/kg) attenuated significantly the scopolamine-induced deficits, as observed during the acquisition sessions or the retention test. PROG (2, 20 mg/kg) did not affect the control or scopolamine-treated group performances, but blocked the ameliorating effect of DHEAS. Furthermore, in both tests, the selective sigma 1 ( σ 1) receptor antagonist NE-100 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to affect the behaviors showed by the control or scopolamine-treated groups, but it blocked the ameliorating effects induced by DHEAS or PREGS. These results confirm the modulating role of neurosteroids in learning and memory processes and demonstrate that their modulation of the cholinergic systems involves an interaction with σ 1 receptors.

The Antiemetic Effect of Transdermal Scopolamine Following Outpatient Laparoscopy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a transdermal scopolamine patch on the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing outpatient laparoscopy.Transdermal scopolamine patch was placed behind ear the night before surgery in study group. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental(4~5mg/ku iv) and succinylcholine(1.5mg/kg) and maintained with meperidine. valium and N2O(50%) in O2.The results were as follows :1) Scopolamine-treated patients had significantly less nausea and vomiting compared with control group. Nausea and/or vomiting was present in 46.4% of the control group but only 18.5% of those getting the scopolamine-treated group.2) Side effects were more frequent among scopollamine-treated patients than control patients (77.8% vs 32.1%) but were not troublesome The common reported side effects were a dry mouth and dizziness.In conclusion transdermal scopolamine appears to be an effective antiemetic agent in patients undergoing outpatient laparoscopy.

Scopolamine patch reduces postoperative emesis in paediatric patients following strabismus surgery

Scopolamine patch was evaluated for the prevention of postoperative emesis in 50 children undergoing strabismus surgery. All subjects were premedicated, with none receiving narcotic premedicants. Anaesthesia included controlled ventilation with the use of muscle relaxants, atropine, and halothane. Before operation, the subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a treatment group received a scopolamine patch at a dose of either 0.75 mg or 0.375 mg, and a control group received no patch. Both the incidence and frequency of vomiting in the scopolamine-treated group were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than in the control group.

The cardiac rate and rhythm in infants during induction of anesthesia with cyclopropane: Atropine versus scopolamine as preanesthetic medication

Summary<ul><li>1.A study of electrocardiographic abnormalities during induction of anesthesia with cyclopropane was made on 48 infants from less than 1 month to 6 months of age. Twenty-five of them received atropine as preanesthetic medication, and 23 received scopolamine; the dose of each drug was 0.15 mg.</li><li>2.Eight of the atropine-treated group and 18 of the scopolamine-treated group developed arrhythmias during induction of anesthesia. The difference is highly significant (p<01).</li><li>3.All patients had a decrease in pulse rate during the induction of anesthesia. Those treated with scopolamine, as contrasted with those treated with atropine, had an additional average pulse decrease of 23 beats per minute. In the patients who developed arrhythmias as contrasted with those with no arrhythmias an additional average pulse decrease of 25 beats per minute was found.</li><li>4.Older and heavier babies tended to be more prone to develop arrhythmias with this dose of atropine than did younger and smaller babies. The difference is highly significant (p<01).</li><li>5.Protection against arrhythmias provided by atropine is usually dissipated by 75 minutes after the administration of the drug.</li><li>6.Atropine is recommended for preanesthetic medication in infants under 6 months of age when cyclopropane is to be the anesthetic agent.</li></ul>