Effects of Cholinesterase Inhibitors Tacrine and Galantamine in Pentilentetrazole induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Mice

The aim was to study the effects of tacrine and galantamine on learning and memory processes in pentilentetrazole-induced model of cognitive dysfunction in mice. Thirty-two male albino mice divided into four groups were treated as follows: Group 1: saline (controls); Group 2: saline+pentilentetrazole (PTZ) (model group); Group 3: tacrine+PTZ; Group 4: galantamine+PTZ. The effects of tacrine and galantamine were studied in automatic set-up for active learning with negative reinforcement "Shuttle-box" (Ugo Basile, Italy). The following parameters were recorded: number of conditioned stimulus responses (avoidances), number of unconditioned stimulus responses (escapes) and number of inter-trial crossings. The comparison between groups was made by Instat computer program using analysis of variance (ANOVA for repeated measurements). The pentilentetrazole (PTZ) significantly decreased the number of conditioned and unconditioned stimulus responses and exploratory activity in mice. Tacrine removed the suppressing effect of PTZ on the central nervous system and improved learning. Galantamine showed a better effect on long term memory. Both cholinesterase inhibitors improved the locomotor activity of the experimental animals.