Physostigmine, but not 3,4-diaminopyridine, improves radial maze performance in memory-impaired rats.

The results of some studies suggest that 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), a drug that enhances the release of acetylcholine, may improve memory. The present study examined the ability of 3,4-DAP to reverse the memory impairment produced by scopolamine and the ability of 3,4-DAP and physostigmine to reverse the memory impairment produced by quinolinic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm) in rats. Mnemonic functioning was assessed with the use of a partially baited eight-arm radial maze.

Kynurenic acid protects against the neurochemical and behavioral effects of unilateral quinolinic acid injections into the nucleus basalis of rats.

It has recently been demonstrated that kynurenic acid (KYN), an endogenous tryptophan metabolite, provides almost complete protection against the neurotoxic and mnemonic effects of another tryptophan metabolite quinolinic acid (QUIN) on the cell bodies of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm). The present study further investigated whether unilateral coinjections of KYN and QUIN into the rat nbm antagonized the effects of QUIN alone. Food-deprived rats were pretrained on an eight-arm radial maze, with four arms baited, until choice accuracy stabilized to greater than or equal to 87% correct.

Animal studies of brain acetylcholine and memory.

Memory loss is a common feature of aging in the human but not all memories are equally lost. Usually the loss is more severe for the memory of recent events and information rather than the memory of remote events and information. Associated with memory losses of this type is a reduction in levels of cortical acetylcholine and a loss of cholinergic cells of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis.

Effects of altered cholinergic function on working and reference memory in the rat.

Many data suggest that the brain's cholinergic neurons participate in the control of memory and it has been suggested that cholinergic systems are involved differentially in working and reference memory. To test this hypothesis the effects on memory of unilateral injections of the neurotoxins, quinolinic acid or kainic acid into the cortically projecting cholinergic cells of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm) were evaluated. In experiment 1, quinolinate-injected (n = 7) and sham-operated (n = 7) rats were tested in a T-maze alternation task that requires working memory.

Prebioptic psychological characteristics of breast cancer patients.

63 women were examined the day before breast biopsy using psychological ratings, speech analysis and questionnaire testings. Ratings revealed differences (benign vs. malignant, a = 5%) in 8 of 10 scales, cancer patients being inaccessible, altruistic, suppressing feelings, rationalizing and harmonizing.