ergoline and Amnesia

28 persons with an average age of 55 years were treated for 180 days with daily doses of 30 mg nicergoline (Sermion) and 28 persons of a comparable age were treated for the same length of time with 6 mg dihydroergotamine mesilate (DHETM) daily. Unwanted reactions occurred to a small degree in both treatment groups; they were mostly of a temporary nature and did not impede continuation of treatment. The results of the psychometric tests showed an increase in performance in both groups which was partly caused by the learning effect in repeated tests. The answers given by the patients concerning subjective changes in symptoms and general condition showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups. This leads to the assumption that both compounds have a similar effect. The analyses of the EEG activities showed a characteristic increase in the fast EEG activities after the application of nicergoline. This would indicate that there are differences in the pharmacodynamics in comparison with DHETM.

Topics: Aged; Amnesia; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dihydroergotamine; Double-Blind Method; Electroencephalography; Ergolines; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nicergoline; Psychometrics; Psychomotor Performance; Random Allocation

Neurochemical mechanisms of the effect of agroclavin on spatial memory in the Morris water maze in mice were studied by analyzing the effect of neurotransmitter receptor ligands on the amnestic effect of this alkaloid. D1-receptor agonist SKF-38393 and calcium channel blockers verapamil and nimodipine abolished the negative effect of agroclavin on spatial memory. The role of intracellular calcium in the mechanisms of amnestic effect of agroclavin is discussed.

Topics: 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine; Amnesia; Animals; Dopamine Agonists; Ergolines; Maze Learning; Mice; Receptors, Dopamine D1

The anti-amnestic action of nicergoline was studied using the following experimental methods for learning and memory impairment, based on passive avoidance response: amnesia induced by maximal electroshock in mice, scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and amnesia by paradoxical sleep deprivation in rats. Piracetam, meclofenoxate, pyritinol, deanol and phenazepam were used as reference drugs. The results show that nicergoline demonstrates well-expressed anti-amnestic effect manifested by reducing the amnestic effect of maximal electroshock, scopolamine or paradoxical sleep deprivation, its effect being equal to or more pronounced than piracetam, meclofenoxate, pyritinol, deanol and phenazepam.

Topics: Amnesia; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Electroshock; Ergolines; Male; Memory; Mice; Nicergoline; Rats; Scopolamine; Sleep Deprivation

Topics: Aged; Amnesia; Brain; Ergolines; Humans; Male; Memory Disorders; Memory, Short-Term; Syndrome