Zhong Yao Cai. 2001 Jul; 24(7): 496-8.

[The effects of ZMS on learning and memory ability and brain choline acetyltransferase in scopolamine-induced mouse model]

Chen Q, Hu Y, Xia Z.

Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ZMS on learning and memory ability and on brain choline acetyltransferase activity. METHODS: A single intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was used to establish a dementia mouse model. The learning and memory ability was detected by step-through and sted-down tests. And the choline acetyltransferase activity in brain was determined by 3H-acetyl-CoA incorporation analysis. RESULTS: ZMS could significantly reduce wrongness frequences, prolong incubation period of scopolamine-induced dementia mice in step-through and step-down tests (P < 0.01). ZMS could also significantly improve the activity of brain choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ZMS could improve the learning and memory ability and the activity of brain ChAT in scopolamine-induced dementia mice. However, ZMS had no significant dose-response effect on improving the activity of brain ChAT, and the effect of Tacrine was similar to that of ZMS, it seemed unlikely that ZMS had a direct action on the ChAT. More probably, ZMS exerted its effect on ChAT activity and on learning and memory ability via elevating brain M receptor density.