A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of eptastigmine on scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in healthy male subjects

✍ Scribed by C. R. Lines; J. H. Ambrose; A. Heald; M. Traub

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 612 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.470080406

✦ Synopsis

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examined the effects of two single doses of eptastigmine, a novel cholinesterase inhibitor, on scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in 24 healthy male volunteers. Each subject received the following treatment sequences, separated by at least 1 week, in a randomly assigned order: Oh 2h Placebo @.o.)

Placebo (i.m.) Placebo @.o.) Eptastigminc (20 mg p.0.) Eptastigmine (32 mg p.0.) Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.) Scopolamine (0.4 mg i.m.) Scopolamine (0-4 mg i.m.)

A battery of computerized cognitive tests, lasting approximately 1 h, were administered 30 min after the i.m. scopolamindplacebo injection. Subjective visual analogue scale ratings were undertaken immediately prior to the first treatment (eptastigmine/placebo) and on completion of the cognitive test battery. In addition, blood samples were taken immediately following the subjective ratings, and at 2 h (prior to the scopolamine/placebo injection), to determine peripheral acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity.

Scopolamine-induced deficits were found on a number of the cognitive tests and subjective ratings. Neither dose of eptastigmine significantly reversed or diminished these impairments. The two doses of eptastigmine produced the anticipated mean levels of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition (20 mg = 23 per cent; 32 mg = 37 per cent).