Atropine and Scopolamine as Adjuncts to Physostigmine in Exercising Rats
Abstract
Previous work demonstrated a dose-related physostigmine (PH)-induced cholinesterase inhibition and dose-response performance decrements in exercising rats. In the present work, the optimal dose of atropine (AT) and scopolamine (S) as adjuncts to PH administration to attenuate the PH-induced performance decrements were determined. Experimental rats received via tail vein: 100, 200, or 400 micrograms/kg of AT prior to 200 micrograms/kg of PH or 4, 8, 16, or 32 micrograms/kg of S prior to 200 micrograms/kg of PH; controls received 2 saline injections. Fifteen min after drug administration, rats were run to exhaustion on a motor driven treadmill. Run time and heating rate (rate of rise of core temperature) for the AT experiment are recorded. These data indicate that 200 micrograms/kg of AT or 8-16 micrograms/kg of S are the optimal doses of each drug for use as adjuncts to relieve the decremental effects of PH in exercising rats. The improvement in performance seen with AT and S adjuncts to PH may be primarily due to muscarinic cholinergic blockade.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209751
Entities
People
- Candace B. Matthew
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine