mecamylamine

Mecamylamine, an orally active, nonselective, noncompetitive antagonist of nAChR (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors), exhibits ganglionic blockade capabilities and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Its applications span research areas including neuropsychiatric disorders, hypertension, and antidepressant efficacy.

Dexmecamylamine( TC-5214, NIH-11008) is used as a nicotinic channel modulator with antidepressant activity.

Mecamylamine hydrochloride (Mevasin) is a nicotinic antagonist, used as a ganglionic blocker in hypertension.

Unifiram is a nootropic agent.1It increases acetylcholine (ACh) release in the rat cerebral cortexin vivoand induces a long-lasting increase in the amplitude of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the rat hippocampal CA1 region (EC50= 27 nM). It does not bind to serotonin (5-HT), dopamine, muscarinic, nicotinic, adrenergic, glutamate, histamine, opioid, or GABA receptors at 1 μM. Unifiram (0.1 mg/kg) improves memory in non-memory-impaired rats in a social learning test.2It also prevents memory deficits induced by the anticholinergic agent scopolamine, nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine, GABABreceptor agonist baclofen, or α2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine in the passive avoidance test in mice when administered at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg and prevents memory deficits induced by the AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor antagonist NBQX at 0.1 mg/kg.1 1.Romanelli, M.N., Galeotti, N., Ghelardini, C., et al.Pharmacological characterization of DM232 (unifiram) and DM235 (sunifiram), new potent cognition enhancersCNS Drug Rev.12(1)39-52(2006) 2.Ghelardini, C., Galeotti, N., Gualtieri, F., et al.The novel nootropic compound DM232 (unifiram) ameliorates memory impairment in mice and ratsDrug Develop. Res.56(1)23-32(2002)

AT-1001 is an α3β4 nAChR partial agonist. AT-1001 attenuates stress-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking in a rat model of relapse and induces minimal withdrawal in dependent rats. AT-1001 also potently and reversibly blocks epibatidine-induced inward currents in HEK cells transfected with α3β4 nAChR. Importantly, AT-1001 potently and dose-dependently blocks nicotine self-administration in rats, without affecting food responding. When tested in a nucleus accumbens (NAcs) synaptosomal preparation, AT-1001 inhibits nicotine-induced [³H]dopamine release poorly and at significantly higher concentrations compared with mecamylamine and conotoxin MII.