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Donepezil restores GH secretion in old rats without affecting the sleep/wake cycle
P Zizzari1, M H Bassant, F Poindessous-Jazat
1UMR 549, INSERM-Université Paris 5 René Descartes, IFR Broca-Ste Anne, 2 ter rue d'Alésia, Paris 75014, France. zizzari@broca.inserm.fr
Abstract:
A chronic treatment with a cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil (0.085 mg/kg/h for 30 days) increases significantly the number and amplitude of growth hormone (GH) pulses in 3- and 24-month-old rats without modifying nadir GH values. This treatment does not reduce age-related alterations in sleep/wake cycle but it increases immobility-related high-voltage spindles (HVS) in old animals. These data suggest that cholinergic mechanisms involved in age-related alterations in GH and sleep regulation are different.
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