Comparison of the effects of vinpocetine, vincamine, and nicergoline on the normal and hypoxia‐damaged learning process in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

Vinpocetine (CavintonB), vincamine, and nicergoline (SermionB) were evaluated for the ability to protect cognitive function of spontaneously hypertensive rats from the damaging effect of hypoxia. Normobaric hypoxia (6% oxygen) was applied during the acquisition of a two-way active avoidance task (3 sessions, 50 trialsisession). Hypoxia decreased the percentage of conditioned avoidance responses by 50% on day 3. Vinpocetine (1.25-1 0 mg/kg) administered orally 60 min prior to the daily sessions did not significantly improve learning in normoxic conditions; however, it prevented hypoxia-induced learning deficit (1.25 mg/kg peak effect dose). The dose-response relationship for the compound is an inverted U-shaped curve. Vincamine (2.5-20 mgikg p.0.) did not facilitate learning under normoxic conditions, but afforded protection against hypoxia at the 20-mgikg dose. Nicergoline (2.5-20 mg/kg p.0.) did not increase acquisition of the normoxic avoidance response, and it also showed a moderate antihypoxic effect. Vinpocetine, and to a lesser degree vincamine and nicergoline-drugs useful in the therapy of cognitive disturbances following cerebral ischemichypoxic states-proved effective in the prevention of a hypoxia-induced learning deficit.

Insight into potential mechanisms of hypobaric hypoxia–induced learning and memory deficit – Lessons from rat studies

“…Groo et al 15 used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to study avoidance response to hypoxia as they were reported to be more sensitive to stressful stimuli 58,59 and showed greater hypoxic vulnerability than normotensive Wistar rats. The SHRs were exposed to either NH (6% oxygen) or normoxic conditions.…”

Tualang Honey Ameliorates Hypoxia-induced Memory Deficits by Reducing Neuronal Damage in the Hippocampus of Adult Male Sprague Dawley Rats

“…Many previous studies used hypoxic chamber set at 6-8% of oxygen content for a shorter period of time and found significant memory deficit. 47,48 Lowering the oxygen contents of inspired air to 6% impaired acquisition of the avoidance response, and the difference between the performance (percentage of avoidance responses) of animals kept under normoxic and hypoxic conditions was significant on day 3 (69.2% and 38.0% conditioned avoidance response, respectively). This finding was in line with earlier study findings by Saligaut et al, 47 where the acquisition of a conditioned avoidance response was impaired under 300 torr hypobaric hypoxia (8% oxygen content).…”

The Families of Cognition Enhancers

“…Further clinical investigations have helped to clarify the effectiveness in mental impairment (Battaglia et Heidrich, 1985; Kuglerand Meurer-Krue/~1985) and multi-infarct dementia (Saletu et al, 1987b). Recent preclinical findings have been presented by Groo et al (1988), Voroninaet al, (1988) and Nikolovet al (1987).…”

“…They display significant effects on cerebral circulation. Pharmacology (Groo et al, 1988;Szpomy, 1977;Witzmann et al, 1977), influence on sleep pattern (Glatt et al, 1978) aI., 1981). For recent animal data on arecoline see Rood et aI.…”