Comparison of the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on [3H]MK-801 binding in rat cerebral cortex

Neurosci Lett. 1999 Sep 3;272(1):21-4. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00567-4.

Abstract

Huperzine A, a selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, was recently demonstrated to exert an antagonist effect on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in rat cerebral cortex. In the present study, the effects of six cholinesterase inhibitors, e.g. huperzine A, huperzine B, tacrine, donepezil (E2020), physostigmine and galanthamine on [3H]dizocilpine (MK-801) binding to synaptic membrane of rat cerebral cortex were compared. Their IC50 values (mean +/- SD) were 36.9 +/- 12.1, 316.8 +/- 93.2, 33.2 +/- 3.7, 135.0 +/- 15.1, 50.4 +/- 7.4, and 3344 +/- 295 microM, respectively. The rank order of potency is tacrine approximately huperzine A > physostigmine > donepezil > huperzine B >> galanthamine. There is no correlation between their activities to inhibit [3H]MK-801 binding and to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (r = +0.563, P = 0.245). The results suggest that most cholinesterase inhibitors available exhibit an antagonist effect on NMDA receptor in rat cerebral cortex in addition to their inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Dizocilpine Maleate / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / metabolism*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Dizocilpine Maleate