https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7301036
Neurobiol Aging. 1981 Summer;2(2):105-11.
Abstract
In
an attempt to gain some insight into possible approaches to reducing
age-related memory disturbances, aged Fischer 344 rats were administered
either vehicle, choline, piracetam or a combination of choline or
piracetam. Animals in each group were tested behaviorally for retention
of a one trial passive avoidance task, and biochemically to determine
changes in choline and acetylcholine levels in hippocampus, cortex and
striatum. Previous research has shown that rats of this strain suffer
severe age-related deficits on this passive avoidance task and that
memory disturbances are at least partially responsible. Those subjects
given only choline (100 mg/kg) did not differ on the behavioral task
from control animals administered vehicle. Rats given piracetam (100
mg/kg) performed slightly better than control rats (p less than 0.05),
but rats given the piracetam/choline combination (100 mg/kg of each)
exhibited retention scores several times better than those given
piracetam alone. In a second study, it was shown that twice the dose of
piracetam (200 mg/kg) or choline (200 mg/kg) alone, still did not
enhance retention nearly as well as when piracetam and choline (100
mg/kg of each) were administered together. Further, repeated
administration (1 week) of the piracetam/choline combination was
superior to acute injections. Regional determinations of choline and
acetylcholine revealed interesting differences between treatments and
brain area. Although choline administration raised choline content about
50% in striatum and cortex, changes in acetylcholine levels were much
more subtle (only 6-10%). No significant changes following choline
administration were observed in the hippocampus. However, piracetam
alone markedly increased choline content in hippocampus (88%) and tended
to decrease acetylcholine levels (19%). No measurable changes in
striatum or cortex were observed following piracetam administration. The
combination of choline and piracetam did not potentiate the effects
seen with either drug alone, and in certain cases the effects were much
less pronounced under the drug combination. These data are discussed as
they relate to possible effects of choline and piracetam on cholinergic
transmission and other neuronal function, and how these effects may
reduce specific memory disturbances in aged subjects. The results of
these studies demonstrate that the effects of combining choline and
piracetam are quite different than those obtained with either drug alone
and support the notion that in order to achieve substantial efficacy in
aged subjects it may be necessary to reduce multiple, interactive
neurochemical dysfunctions in the brain, or affect activity in more than
one parameter of a deficient metabolic pathway.
- PMID:
- 7301036
- [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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