Neuroprotective effect of donepezil, a nicotinic acetylcholine-receptor activator, on cerebral infarction in rats.

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential effect of donepezil, which is known as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, against cerebral infarction induced by permanent left middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Donepezil was given orally in various regimens, prior to MCA occlusion in rats. Pretreatment with a single oral dose of donepezil (12 mg/kg), 2 h before ischemia, significantly attenuated cerebral infarction volume (165.5 +/- 105.3 vs. 377.1 +/- 48.5 mm(3); P < 0.05). These neuroprotective effects were prevented by coinjection with mecamylamine, a nicotinic acetylcholine-receptor (nAChR) antagonist, indicating that protection was mediated by nAChR activation.

• Authors: Minoru Fujiki, Hidenori Kobayashi, Susumu Uchida, Ryo Inoue, Keisuke Ishii
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 1043 Issue 1-2 Pg. 236-41 (May 10 2005) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15862539 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Indans
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Nicotinic Agonists
• Piperidines
• Receptors, Nicotinic
• Donepezil

Topics

• Animals
• Donepezil
• Indans (pharmacology)
• Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Ischemic Preconditioning
• Male
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
• Nicotinic Agonists (pharmacology)
• Piperidines (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Nicotinic (physiology)