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. 2015 May-Jun;47(3):263-9.
doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.157114.

Cognitive enhancing effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on learning and memory

V S Nade  1 , L A Kawale  1 , K D Valte  1 , N V Shendye  1
Affiliations

Cognitive enhancing effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on learning and memory

V S Nade et al. Indian J Pharmacol. 2015 May-Jun.

Abstract

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate cognitive enhancing property of angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in rats.

Materials and methods: The elevated plus maze (EPM), passive avoidance test (PAT), and water maze test (WMT) were used to assess cognitive enhancing activity in young and aged rats. Ramipril (10 mg/kg, p.o.), perindopril (10 mg/kg, i.p), losartan (20 mg/kg, i.p), and valsartan (20 mg/kg, p.o) were administered to assess their effect on learning and memory. Scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p) was used to impair cognitive function. Piracetam (200 mg/kg, i.p) was used as reference drug.

Results: All the treatments significantly attenuated amnesia induced by aging and scopolamine. In EPM, aged and scopolamine-treated rats showed an increase in transfer latency (TL) whereas, ACEI and ARBs showed a significant decrease in TL. Treatment with ACEI and ARBs significantly increased step down latencies and decreased latency to reach the platform in target quadrant in young, aged and scopolamine-treated animals in PAT and WMT, respectively. The treatments inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme in the brain. Similarly, all the treatments attenuated scopolamine-induced lipid peroxidation and normalize antioxidant enzymes.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the cognitive enhancing effect of ACEI and ARBs may be due to inhibition of AChE or by regulation of antioxidant system or increase in formation of angiotensin IV.

Keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; angiotensin IV; lipid peroxidation; scopolamine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on brain acetylcholinesterase activity in rats: Each column represents mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 5). Groups VI, VII, VIII, and IX compared to Group I. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 (one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's test)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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