Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting learning and memory processes. The most commonly used drugs for symptomatic treatment of AD are the inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) – Galantamine, Rivastigmine, Donepezil. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the combination galantamine/4-amynopyridine (Gal/4-AP) in different ratios on locomotor activityafter single and on active avoidance after repeated administration in mice. Galantamine and 4-aminopyridine alone, as well as their combinationsdidn’t influence significantly locomotor activity in mice at doses representing 1/20 of LD50 of the respective substances. The memory enhancing potential of the compounds was examined using the active avoidance test and for deterioration of memory processes was used scopolamine in dose 3 mg/kg. The results demonstrate that among the Gal/4-AP combination in ratios 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1, the highest effect was observed in the group, treated with 3:1 ratio. In this group there is a significant increase in the number of responses avoided and escaped in active avoidance test.