|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine if Cholinaid, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, improved working memory in rats. Half the rats in the group were injected with a placebo saline solution and half with Cholinaid and, based on the assumption that rodents are naturally curious and inclined to investigate novel rather than familiar stimuli, an object recognition test was employed. In Trial 1, both groups of rats were exposed to 2 novel objects. In Trial 2 (after 24 hours) both groups were then exposed to one previously encountered object, plus a completely new object. It was found that rats which had received Cholinaid attended to the novel stimulus in trial 2 significantly more than did those in the saline group, thus supporting the idea that Cholinaid improves working memory in rats. ... The effects of Acetylcholine can be stopped by antagonists, such as Scopolamine, which………… or enhanced, by agonists, such as……. ...
Acetylcholine is also naturally deactivated by the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, at the post-synaptic stage, meaning that only a small amount of the neurotransmitter is but this effect can be stopped by the administration of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as physostigmine, which effectively enhances acetylcholinergic transmission. ... In experiments where the nucleus basals magnocellularis (a basal forebrain structure reciprocally connected to regions of the cortex via cholinergic projects) was excitoxically-lesioned in rats, memory function was shown to be significantly impaired. Conversely, the administration of the Cholinesterase inhibitor, Tacrine, has been shown to reduce cognitive deficits in this disorder.
Accordingly, the purpose of the current study, was to investigate the effect of administration of a new acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Cholinaid, on the working memory of a sample of rodents. A test of object recognition was used to exploit the natural curiosity of rats in a pure test of working memory. ...
As Cholinaid is still in the experimental stages and any potential side effects are not yet known, rats were used instead of human subjects. ... Robbins, Mehta & Sahakian (2000) found when they monitored human subjects in a visual recognition test using fMRI and PET scans they found that Physostigmine quickened the subject’s ability to recognize human faces. In addition to Physostigmine, other drugs studied for their nootropic (or cognitive enhancing) properties include Piracetam, Oxiracetam and Aniracetam and although their pharmacological effects vary, all influence cholinergic function at both muscarinic and/or nicotinic receptors. In addition to their enhancement of learning and memory, they appear to lack adverse psychopharmacological actions, such as sedation and motor or behavioural changes, they have no overt effects on mood or perception, can be tolerated at high doses and are capable of entering the brain following oral administration (Biotech Week; Atlanta; Dec 19, 2001.
Approximate Word count = 1950
Approximate Pages = 7.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|