Biomaterial Database

Oxiracetam prevents mecamylamine-induced impairment of active, but not passive, avoidance learning in mice. 1990

M Sansone, and C Castellano, and M Battaglia, and M Ammassari-Teule

Istituto di Psicobiologia e Psicofarmacologia, CNR, Roma, Italy.

The nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg/IP) depressed both active (shuttle-box) and passive (step-through) avoidance learning in mice of the DBA/2 strain. The nootropic drug oxiracetam (50 and 100 mg/kg/IP) improved acquisition in the multitrial active avoidance test, but had no effect on one-trial passive avoidance learning. When the two drugs were combined, oxiracetam did not counteract mecamylamine-induced impairment of passive avoidance learning, even if it maintained a facilitating action on shuttle-box avoidance acquisition in mice receiving the nicotinic receptor blocker. Prevention of mecamylamine-induced shuttle-box avoidance depression by oxiracetam indicates that central nicotinic mechanisms are probably involved in the improving effects exerted by nootropic drugs on learning.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008464	Mecamylamine	A nicotinic antagonist that is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood-brain barrier. Mecamylamine has been used as a ganglionic blocker in treating hypertension, but, like most ganglionic blockers, is more often used now as a research tool.
D008811	Mice, Inbred DBA	An inbred strain of mouse. Specific substrains are used in a variety of areas of BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH such as DBA/1J, which is used as a model for RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.	Mice, DBA,Mouse, DBA,Mouse, Inbred DBA,DBA Mice,DBA Mice, Inbred,DBA Mouse,DBA Mouse, Inbred,Inbred DBA Mice,Inbred DBA Mouse
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D011619	Psychotropic Drugs	A loosely defined grouping of drugs that have effects on psychological function. Here the psychotropic agents include the antidepressive agents, hallucinogens, and tranquilizing agents (including the antipsychotics and anti-anxiety agents).	Psychoactive Agent,Psychoactive Agents,Psychoactive Drug,Psychopharmaceutical,Psychopharmaceuticals,Psychotropic Drug,Psychoactive Drugs,Agent, Psychoactive,Agents, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychoactive,Drug, Psychotropic,Drugs, Psychoactive,Drugs, Psychotropic
D011759	Pyrrolidines	Compounds also known as tetrahydropyridines with general molecular formula (CH2)4NH.	Tetrahydropyridine,Tetrahydropyridines
D004347	Drug Interactions	The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.	Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia