Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors ameliorate cognitive dysfunction induced by amyloid-β peptide in mice

Behav Brain Res. 2011 Nov 20;225(1):222-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.07.035. Epub 2011 Jul 27.

Abstract

The cholinesterase inhibitor, rivastigmine, ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and is approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rivastigmine is a dual inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE); however, the impact of BuChE inhibition on cognitive dysfunction remains to be determined. We compared the effects of a selective BuChE inhibitor, N1-phenethyl-norcymserine (PEC), rivastigmine and donepezil (an AChE-selective inhibitor) on cognitive dysfunction induced by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ(1-40)) in mice. Five-week-old imprinting control region (ICR) mice were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with either Aβ(1-40) or the control peptide Aβ(40-1) on Day 0, and their recognition memory was analyzed by a novel object recognition test. Treatment with donepezil (1.0mg/kg), rivastigmine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3mg/kg) or PEC (1.0, 3.0mg/kg) 20min prior to, or immediately after the acquisition session (Day 4) ameliorated the Aβ(1-40) induced memory impairment, indicating a beneficial effect on memory acquisition and consolidation. In contrast, none of the investigated drugs proved effective when administrated before the retention session (Day 5). Repeated daily administration of donepezil, rivastigmine or PEC, on Days 0-3 inclusively, ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction in Aβ(1-40) challenged mice. Consistent with the reversal of memory impairments, donepezil, rivastigmine or PEC treatment significantly reduced Aβ(1-40) induced tyrosine nitration of hippocampal proteins, a marker of oxidative damage. These results indicate that BuChE inhibition, as well as AChE inhibition, is a viable therapeutic strategy for cognitive dysfunction in AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / metabolism*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Cognition Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Donepezil
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Indans / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity*
  • Phenylcarbamates / therapeutic use*
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Recognition, Psychology / drug effects
  • Rivastigmine

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Indans
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Phenylcarbamates
  • Piperidines
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • Donepezil
  • Butyrylcholinesterase
  • Rivastigmine