EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF HUPERZINE A ON MEMORY IN GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

Effects of subchronic administration of huperzine A, a cholinesterase inhibitor, on spatial memory were studied in guinea pig. Spatial memory was appreciated by the Morris water maze test. At a dose of 0.25 μg/h, inhibiting 36% of blood AChE and 14–20% of central AChE, no effect on spatial learning was found. At a dose of 1 μg/h, inhibiting 20% of blood AChE and 14–20% of central AChE, no memory impairment was found, on the other hand, a memory enhancing effect, limited to the first day was shown. It thus appears that subchronic administration of huperzine A did not induce deleterious effects on spatial memory.

Key Words: :

• Huperzine A
• Spatial memory
• Chronic administration
• Morris water maze
• Guinea pigs