Pharmacodynamic of Piracetam in Experimental Amnesia

Piracetam,a cyclic derivative of GABA improves learning and memory.Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of piracetam on scopolamine,cyclohexamide,diazepam,sodium nitrite and BN52021 were administred to mice before acquisition or retrieval trial using water maze test. Scopolamine(3mgKg-1, i.p.),cyclohexamide(28mgKg-1, i.p.)and diazepam(1 mg Kg-1, i.p.)have produced only anterograde amnesia. Sodium nitrite(75mgKg-1, i.p.)has produced both anterograde and retrograde amnesia. BN52021(15mg Kg-1,i.p.), PAF-R antagonist has produced only retrograde amnesia. The present results exhibit that the anterograde amnesia produced by scopolamine, cyclohexamide and sodium nitrite has been prevented by piracetam (200 mg Kg-1, i.p.). On the other hand diazepam induced anterograde amnesia has not been affected by piracetam. However, retrograde amnesia produced by sodium nitrite and BN52021 has been attenuated by piracetam. It is speculated that ameliorative effect of piracetam in experimental amnesia may be due to increase in intracellular calcium, restoration of cerebral proteins, improvement in cholinergic mechanism and consequent restoration of brain cell fluidity.