ABSTRACT
Cognitive decline is one of the age related mental problems and a characteristic symptom of various neurodegenerative disorders. Nootropic effects of combination of sildenafil and galantamine was evaluated in different learning and memory paradigms viz. Elevated plus maze (EPM) and Morris water maze (MWM) against scopolamine induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, the influence on central cholinergic activity via estimating the whole brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme was also assessed. Sildenafil (8 mg/kg, i.p.) and galantamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered per se to Swiss albino mice for successive 14 days. In addition, combination of sildenafil (4 mg/kg, i.p.) and galantamine (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered. Scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce amnesia. Inflexion ratio and time spent in target quadrant were determined in EPM and MWM, respectively. Further, whole brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme was estimated through Ellman’s method. Treatment with sildenafil and galantamine combination significantly increased inflexion ratio and time spent in target quadrant in EPM and MWM, respectively. Combination treatment also showed reduction in brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity when compared separately against sildenafil and galantamine per se. The present study results suggest the augmentation of benefits of galantamine and sildenafil combination in the treatment of cognitive impairments.
ABSTRACT
Cognitive decline is one of the age related mental problems and a characteristic symptom of various neurodegenerative disorders. Nootropic effects of combination of sildenafil and galantamine was evaluated in different learning and memory paradigms viz. Elevated plus maze (EPM) and Morris water maze (MWM) against scopolamine induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, the influence on central cholinergic activity via estimating the whole brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme was also assessed. Sildenafil (8 mg/kg, i.p.) and galantamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered per se to Swiss albino mice for successive 14 days. In addition, combination of sildenafil (4 mg/kg, i.p.) and galantamine (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered. Scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce amnesia. Inflexion ratio and time spent in target quadrant were determined in EPM and MWM, respectively. Further, whole brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme was estimated through Ellman’s method. Treatment with sildenafil and galantamine combination significantly increased inflexion ratio and time spent in target quadrant in EPM and MWM, respectively. Combination treatment also showed reduction in brain acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity when compared separately against sildenafil and galantamine per se. The present study results suggest the augmentation of benefits of galantamine and sildenafil combination in the treatment of cognitive impairments.
ABSTRACT
The tail suspension test (TST) is a valid tool for assessing antidepressant activity. Association between depression and lower locomotion and exploration activities is also reported. In the present study, photoactometer, hole board and elevated plus maze tests were performed to evaluate locomotion, exploration and anxiety activities on animals of first and second set, however animals of second set were pre-exposed to TST. The comparison between these two sets will help in understanding the impact of pre-exposure to TST on behavioural parameters. In both sets, swiss albino mice were treated with caffeine (10 mg/kg, ip), bupropion (10 mg/kg, ip), duloxetine (10 mg/kg, ip), nicotine (0.8 mg/kg, sc) and normal saline. Control group of second set showed significant decrease in locomotion, exploration and increase in anxiety when compared against control group of first set. In second set, duloxetine, bupropion, and nicotine treated groups showed significant increase in locomotion when compared against control group of same set. Overall, pre-exposure to TST leads to significant decrease in locomotion, exploration activities and increase in anxiety level. Further studies demonstrating it’s time bound impact on brain monoamine levels with correlation to behavioural paradigms may help to validate these outcomes.