dihydroergotoxine and vinpocetine

In order to determine the antianoxic potential of evodiamine, its effects were compared to those of vinpocetine (VPT), using a series of animal models of anoxia. In mice, evodiamine was equivalent to VPT in the KCN-induced anoxia model but was greater than VPT in the low-pressure-induced anoxia model. Its effectiveness was increased by combined treatment with physostigmine, suggesting the involvement of a cholinergic mechanism in the antianoxic action of evodiamine.

Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Atmospheric Pressure; Dihydroergotoxine; Hypoxia; Male; Mice; Pentobarbital; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Potassium Cyanide; Quinazolines; Sleep; Vinca Alkaloids

Vinpocetine, vincamine, aniracetam, and Hydergine, compounds with purported cognition activating activity, were evaluated for their ability to prevent scopolamine-induced and hypoxia-induced impairment of passive avoidance retention (24 hr) in rats. Vinpocetine (peak effect dose [PED]= 200 mg/kg PO), aniracetam (PED = 100 mg/kg PO), vincamine (PED = 30 mg/kg PO), and Hydergine (PED = 1 mg/kg PO) prevented memory disruption by scopolamine. Vinpocetine (PED = 3 mg/kg PO) and aniracetam (PED = 30 mg/kg PO) were also effective in preventing disruption of passive avoidance retention impaired by 7% oxygen hypoxia. In contrast, Hydergine (0.05 to 3 mg/kg PO) and vincamine (0.3 to 100 mg/kg PO) were not effective against hypoxia-induced impairment. Hydergine at doses greater than 10 mg/kg PO markedly impaired motor function. In both tests the protection was dose-related for all test substances in an inverted U-shaped manner. Mecamylamine (1, 3, 10 mg/kg SC), (-)-nicotine (0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg SC), apovincaminic acid (1-400 mg/kg PO) and pemoline (1-100 mg/kg PO) did not protect against memory impairment induced by either procedure. These data support the view that vinpocetine, a compound chemically distinct from the pyrrolidinones, has a cognitive activating ability as defined in models of both scopolamine-induced and hypoxia-induced memory impairment in rats.

Topics: Animals; Avoidance Learning; Dihydroergotoxine; Hypoxia, Brain; Male; Memory Disorders; Pyrrolidinones; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reaction Time; Scopolamine; Vinca Alkaloids; Vincamine

The effect of different nootropic drugs (piracetam, pyritinol, meclofenoxate, methylglucamine orotate, dihydroergotoxine, nicergoline, vinpocetine) on the duration of immobility in the behavioural despair test in mice was studied. All tested nootropics exhibited a dose-related reduction in immobility. In connection with the discussed role of monoaminergic processes in the state of immobility our data support the possible participation of central monoaminergic systems in the mechanisms of action of nootropic drugs.

Topics: Animals; Dihydroergotoxine; Male; Meclofenoxate; Meglumine; Mice; Motor Activity; Nicergoline; Orotic Acid; Piracetam; Psychotropic Drugs; Pyrithioxin; Vinca Alkaloids

An 18 h lasting moderate hypoxia equivalent to 7000 m altitude rises DOPAC level in the caudate nucleus and the mesolimbic area of the rat to about 130%. This elevation is counteracted by a singular high dose of nootropics of the "energy mobilizer" type, but not by vasoactive ones.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Caudate Nucleus; Diazepam; Dihydroergotoxine; Dopamine; Hypoxia; Meclofenoxate; Orotic Acid; Piracetam; Psychotropic Drugs; Pyrithioxin; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Vinca Alkaloids