Effects of BN-50730 (PAF receptor antagonist) and physostigmine (AChE inhibitor) on learning and memory in mice.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of BN-50730, a PAF receptor antagonist, on learning and memory in mice using elevated plus-maze and to delineate the role of acetylcholine in modulating the effect of PAF receptor antagonist on learning and memory. BN-50730 administered immediately after plus-maze training on day 1 induced retrograde amnesia as indicated by a dose-dependent increase in transfer latency (TL) measured on day 2 whereas no such increase in TL was noted when BN-50730 (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered prior to plus-maze training. Physostigmine (0.5 mg/kg; 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) administered 30 min prior to plus-maze training attenuated BN-50730-induced increase in TL measured on day 2. These results suggest that BN-50730, a PAF receptor antagonist, produced retrograde amnesia and physostigmine attenuated BN-50730-induced amnesia possibly through increased concentration of cerebral acetylcholine and a consequent increase in PAF release.