The cyanine Dye NK-4 improves scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of NK-4, a kind of cyanine dye, on cholinergic memory deficits in mice. We examined whether NK-4 could reverse scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice since NK-4 displays a potent and selective inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of NK-4 significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice in the Y maze and the passive avoidance tests, and NK-4 also improved spatial learning ability in the Morris water maze test. Despite NK-4 displaying remarkable AChE inhibitory activity in vitro, we could not detect a significant reduction of AChE activity in brain homogenates of NK-4-treated mice. Although the mechanism through which NK-4 reverses cognitive impairments in scopolamine-treated mice remains unclear, these data suggest that NK-4 may have potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of dementia.

• Authors: Satoko Uchida, Shin Endo, Kenji Akita, Tsunetaka Ohta, Shigeharu Fukuda
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 35 Issue 10 Pg. 1831-5 ( 2012) ISSN: 1347-5215 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 23037173 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carbocyanines
• NK-4 dye
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Scopolamine
• Acetylcholinesterase
• Butyrylcholinesterase

Topics

• Acetylcholinesterase (metabolism)
• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Butyrylcholinesterase (metabolism)
• Carbocyanines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, enzymology)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, enzymology)
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory Disorders (chemically induced, drug therapy, enzymology, physiopathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred F344
• Scopolamine