Preventive effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide on scopolamine‐induced memory impairment in the rat

Abstract

Abstract In a passive avoidance response, intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg) at 15 min before the training trials produced a marked impairment of memory in the rat. However, pretreatment with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK‐8) either given subcutaneously or intracerebroventriculary (i.c.v.) prevented the scopolamine‐induced amnesia. Continuous i.c.v. infusion of CCK‐8 (1 ng/day) for 7 days significantly prevented the amnesia. The results support our previous findings that CCK‐8 has a protective effect against experimental amnesia in the rat.