DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 208-211

The Tacrine and Galantamine are cholinesterase inhibitors for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The pentylentetrazole model of retrograde amnesia is suitable for studying of learning and memory impairments. The aim of present study was to compare the effects of the cholinesterase inhibitors Tacrine and Galantamine on pentilentetrazole amnesia model in mice using passive avoidance test. The 32 male albino mice 21-26g was used, n=8. The groups were: Saline 0.1ml/10g body weight; Saline + Pentylentetrazole (PTZ) 45mg/kg; Tacrine 1mg/kg + PTZ 45 mg/kg; Galantamine 0.1mg/kg + PTZ 45 mg/kg. The mice were treated subcutaneously with PTZ immediately after testing in Step-down apparatus (Ugo Basile, Italy). The cholinesterase inhibitors ware applied intraperitoneally 30 minutes before testing. The latency of reaction (60 seconds) was a criterion for learning and memory. A two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements was used to compare different groups with the respective controls. In step-down passive avoidance test controls significantly increased the latency of reactions on learning session and on short and long memory tests. The mice with PTZ decreased the latency of reaction compared to the same day controls. The group with Tacrine and PTZ lowery increased the latency in comparison with PTZ group. The animals with Galantamine and PTZ significantly increased the latency of reactions on lerning and memory tests. Our results allow us to conclude that PTZ had small impairing effect on cognitive functions in mice. The Galantamine in low dose antagonizes inhibitory effect of PTZ on brain functions better than Tacrine.