Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
Chlordiazepoxide interactions with scopolamine and dizocilpine: novel cooperative and antagonistic effects on spatial
Diana Padlubnaya1, Mark Galizio, Raymond C Pitts
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 610 South College Rd, NC 28403-5612, USA.
Abstract:
The authors investigated the effects on spatial behavior of coadministrations of a benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP), with a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist (NMDAR), dizocilpine (DZP), and a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist, scopolamine (SCP). Rats solved the Morris swim task in 2 settings; 1 in which a hidden escape platform was always in the same location (performance) and a 2nd in which the platform had been moved to a different location (acquisition) for repeated daily sessions. CDP (3.0 mg/kg) administered alone did not disrupt escape latencies or swim path accuracies. SCP and DZP each impaired acquisition and performance in a dose-dependent manner. CDP coadministered with 0.3 mg/kg SCP impaired escape only in the acquisition setting and when coadministered with 1.0 mg/kg SCP selectively exacerbated the escape impairment in the acquisition setting. CDP ameliorated deleterious effects of DZP in both settings.
Related Concept Videos
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacokinetics
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions
Gastrointestinal Effects: Antimuscarinics reduce gut contractions, increase gastric emptying, and slow intestinal transit. They partly inhibit gastric acid secretion...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

