Nootropic Candidates Inhibit Head-Twitches Induced by Mescaline in Mice.
Tsuneyuki Yamamoto, Masuo Ohno, Shin‐ichi Yatsugi, Yasuhiro Fujikawa, Showa Ueki
The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology January 1, 1992 DOI: 10.1254/jjp.59.419 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn mice, several drugs being tested as potential nootropics reduced the number of head-twitches caused by mescaline (100 mg/kg). Idebenone (32 and 100 mg/kg), minaprine (0.32–10 mg/kg), and nebracetam (100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed this response. Cholinesterase inhibitors—tetrahydroaminoacridine (1 and 10 mg/kg), NIK-247 (10 and 18 mg/kg), and physostigmine (0.32 mg/kg)—also reduced the head-twitches. The findings suggest that activating cholinergic pathways, either directly or indirectly, may help inhibit mescaline-induced head-twitches in this animal model.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | Idebenone Minaprine Nebracetam Tetrahydroaminoacridine NIK-247 Physostigmine |
| Dose | 100 mg/kg mescaline; 32 and 100 mg/kg idebenone; 0.32-10 mg/kg minaprine; 100 mg/kg nebracetam; 1 and 10 mg/kg tetrahydroaminoacridine; 10 and 18 mg/kg NIK-247; 0.32 mg/kg physostigmine |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Physostigmine Pharmacology Nootropic Chemistry |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key finding | Idebenone, minaprine, nebracetam, and several cholinesterase inhibitors reduced mescaline-induced head-twitches in mice, suggesting cholinergic activation may be involved. |
Abstract
The effects of various nootropic candidates on mescaline-induced head-twitches were studied in mice. The number of head-twitches induced by mescaline (100 mg/kg, s.c.) was significantly reduced by idebenone (32 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), minaprine (0.32-10 mg/kg, p.o.) and nebracetam (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Cholinesterase inhibitors such as tetrahydroaminoacridine (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.), NIK-247 (10 and 18 mg/kg, p.o.) and physostigmine (0.32 mg/kg, i.p.) also suppressed the head-twitch response to mescaline. These results suggest that the direct or indirect cholinergic-activating effects of these drugs may be involved in inhibiting mescaline-induced head-twitches.