Abstract
The effect of nicotine on learning disturbances was tested in rats. Rats were fed either a choline-enriched or a choline-deficient diet. Concentration of acetylcholine in the whole brain was significantly lower in rats fed with choline-deficient diet than rats fed with choline-enriched diet. Passive avoidance learning shows that rats on a choline-deficient diet showed significantly impaired learning compared to rats on a choline-enriched diet. Nicotine (0.04 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally significantly potentiated learning in rats on a choline-deficient diet, as well as in rats on a choline-enriched diet. We, therefore, suggest that nicotine may potentiate learning in an acetylcholine-deprived brain.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 921-925 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1991 Apr |
Keywords
- Acetylcholine
- Alzheimer's disease
- Nicotine
- Rat
- Tobacco
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biological Psychiatry
- Behavioral Neuroscience