Abstract
Scopolamine (2 mg/kg IP) and propranolol (55 mg/kg IP), given before a single learning trial, reduce retention of a passive avoidance response in rats. Phosphatidylserine, 30–60 mg/kg IP, antagonizes the amnesic effect of scopolamine but not that of propranolol. The retention of the passive avoidance response is not affected by phosphatidylserine given alone. The results indicate that this phospholipid selectively counteracts the action of scopolamine on passive avoidance acquisition, probably via a cholinergic mechanism.
References
Ader R, Weijenen JAWM, Moleman P (1972) Retention of a passive avoidance response as a function of the intensity and duration of electric shock. Psychonom Sci 26:125–128
Aporti F, Nelsen JM, Goldstein L (1982) A quantitative EEG study at cortical and subcortical levels of the effects of brain cortical phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) in rats, and of its interactions with scopolamine. Res Commun Psychol Psychiatr Behav 7:131–143
Bohdanecky Z, Jarvik ME (1967) Impairment of one trial passive avoidance learning in mice by scopolamine, scopolamine methylbromide and physostigmine. Int J Neuropharmacol 6:217–222
Casamenti F, Mantovani P, Amaducci L, Pepeu G (1979) Effect of phosphatidylserine on acetylcholine output from the cerebral cortex of the rat. J Neurochem 32:529–533
Cohen RP, Hamburg MD (1975) Evidence for adrenergic neurons in a memory access pathway. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 3:519–523
Gray JA, McNaughton N (1983) Comparison between the behavioural effects of septal and hippocampal lesions: a review. Neurosci Behav Rev 7:119–188
Lees MB (1957) Preparation and analysis of phosphatides. Methods Enzymol 3:328–345
Pepeu G, Gori G, Bartolini L (1980) Pharmacologic and therapeutic perspectives on dementia: an experimental approach. In: Amaducci L, Davison AN, Antuono P (eds) Aging of the brain and dementia. Raven Press, New York, pp 271–274
Spencer DG, Lal H (1983) Effects of anticholinergic drugs on learning and memory. Drug Dev Res 3:489–502
Toffano G, Bruni A (1980) Pharmacological properties of phospholipid liposomes. Pharmacol Res Commun 12:829–845
Toffano G, Leon A, Mazzari S, Savoini G, Teolato S, Orlando P (1978) Modification of noradrenergic hypothalamic system in rat injected with phosphatidylserine liposomes. Life Sci 23:1093–1102
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zanotti, A., Valzelli, L. & Toffano, G. Reversal of scopolamine-induced amnesia by phosphatidylserine in rats. Psychopharmacology 90, 274–275 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181257
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181257