Nootropic drugs

Giurgea, C.; Salama, Maurice

doi:10.1016/0364-7722(77)90046-7

Cited by 132 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Finally, piracetam, certainly an interesting drug from the clinical standpoint although its mechanism of action is still largely unknown {Giurgea, 1976; Giurgea and Salama, 1977), increases brain tryptophan without changing the serum concentration.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Different Psychoactive Drugs on Serum and Brain Tryptophan Levels

Valzelli¹,

Bernasconi²,

Coen³

et al. 1980

Neuropsychobiology

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A considerable amount of evidence indicates that the brain tryptophan level depends on circulating tryptophan. Changes of tryptophan concentration have also been described to modify the activity of benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants. In the present study, a series of psychoactive drugs have been preliminarily screened for their activity on brain and plasma tryptophan levels. The results obtained suggest that tryptophan may be involved to varying extents in the activity of different psychoactive compounds.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Different Psychoactive Drugs on Serum and Brain Tryptophan Levels

Valzelli¹,

Bernasconi²,

Coen³

et al. 1980

Neuropsychobiology

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“…The pharmacological actions of oxiracetam are similar to those described for other pyrrolidone derivatives, including piracetam, aniracetam, pramiracetam (Moos et al, 1988;Pepeu & Spignoli, 1989) which are commonly defined as nootropics. According to Giurgea & Salama (1977) and Schindler et al (1984) the term nootropic agent indicates a drug which facilitates learning and memory and prevents the impairment of cognitive functions induced by brain insults and disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the nootropic drug oxiracetam on field potentials of rat hippocampal slices

Pugliese

Corradetti

Ballerini

et al. 1990

British J Pharmacology

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1 The effect of the nootropic drug oxiracetam on hippocampal neurotransmission was investigated in the CAI region of the rat hippocampal slice in vitro by use of extracellular recordings.2 Superfusion of oxiracetam (0.1-1001iM) produced a concentration-dependent, wash-resistant (>90 min), increase in initial slope and amplitude of the dendritic field excitatory postsynaptic potential (e.p.s.p.). This increase was maximal at a concentration of 1 YM (70%). 3 Input-output curves relating the initial slope to the amplitude of the afferent volley were significantly (P < 0.05) steeper and showed a greater maximal response in the presence of 1 gM oxiracetam than in control conditions. 4 Two trains of high frequency stimulation (100 Hz, 0.4 s, 5 min apart) delivered in the stratum radiatum 30min after washout of oxiracetam (1 yM) still elicited a long-term potentiation (LTP) of the field e.p.s.p.However, the absolute magnitude of the LTP produced did not differ from that obtained in untreated slices.5 After induction and establishment of LTP, oxiracetam (1 yM) had a smaller (27%) and reversible effect on the evoked field e.p.s.p.6 D-2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), at the same concentration (50pM) which in our conditions prevented the induction of LTP, blocked the action of 1 yM oxiracetam and strongly depressed the effect of higher concentrations of the nootropic drug. 7 It is concluded that oxiracetam provokes an enduring increase of neurotransmission in the CAl rat hippocampal region. This action appears to share some features with LTP as indicated by its persistence, sensitivity to AP-5 and lack of additivity with electrically-induced LTP.

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“…Bartus et al [1985] found that chronic cholineenriched diets appeared to prevent retention deficits in mice, trained in inhibitory avoidance, and choline depri vation appeared to exacerbate them. Other studies in aged rats [Bartus, 1981;Giurgea et al, 1983] demonstrated a synergistic effect of combining choline with piracetam, a drug which may facilitate maintenance of normal neu ronal function in aged brain. Aged rats, trained in onetrial passive (inhibitory) avoidance given the dual drug treatment performed significantly better than control ani mals and animals given either drug alone.…”

Section: Acetylcholinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…They enhance the efficacy of these processes, thereby producing direct improve ment of mental, noetic functions. The nootropic concept has been described in detail [Giurgea, 1972[Giurgea, , 1973Giurgea et al, 1983]. A few nootropic-like drugs which cur rently claim controversial efficacy for improving geriat ric cognition are piracetam, vincamine, dihydroergotamine, and centrophenoxine.…”

Section: Nootropicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Influences on Learning and Memory in Aged Animals and Humans

Hock¹

1987

Neuropsychobiology

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In this article the effects of neurotransmitter systems or specific drugs on cognitive functions of aged animals and humans are reviewed. While there have been used many different pharmacologic and behavioral approaches to treat and test cognitive deficits in aged animals and geriatric or demented patients, there is still the question of the validity of animal models of human disorders. Attempts are made to show that there are parallels and similarities. These similarities suggest that the neurological and neurochemical changes observed may play common roles in similar behavioral deficits observed in aged animals and humans.

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Nootropic drugs

Cited by 132 publications

References 15 publications

Effect of Different Psychoactive Drugs on Serum and Brain Tryptophan Levels

Effect of Different Psychoactive Drugs on Serum and Brain Tryptophan Levels

Effect of the nootropic drug oxiracetam on field potentials of rat hippocampal slices

Drug Influences on Learning and Memory in Aged Animals and Humans

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