The effects of the soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat on memory performance in healthy volunteers with a biperiden-induced memory impairment

Laura G J M Borghans*, Anke Sambeth, Jos Prickaerts, Johannes G Ramaekers, Arjan Blokland

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

RATIONALE: After stimulation with nitric oxide, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) produces cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which stimulates an important signalling pathway for long-term potentiation (LTP). By upregulating cGMP, LTP could be stimulated and thereby enhancing memory processes. The present study investigated the effects of the sGC stimulator riociguat on cognition in healthy volunteers. Participants were pre-treated with and without biperiden, which impairs memory performance, to investigate the memory-enhancing effects of riociguat.

METHODS: Twenty volunteers participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled six-way crossover design with a cognitive test battery including the verbal learning task (VLT), n-back task, spatial memory test, the attention network test, and a reaction time task. Treatments were placebo and riociguat 0.5 mg, placebo and riociguat 1.0 mg, biperiden 2.0 mg and placebo, biperiden 2.0 mg and riociguat 0.5 mg and biperiden 2.0 mg and riociguat 1.0 mg.

RESULTS: Blood pressure was found to be decreased and heart rate to be increased after administration of riociguat. Cognitive performance was not enhanced after administration of riociguat. Biperiden decreased episodic memory on the VLT, yet this deficit was not reversed by riociguat.

CONCLUSION: This supports the notion that biperiden might be a valuable pharmacological model to induce episodic memory impairments as observed in AD/MCI.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2407-2416
Number of pages10
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume235
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Journal Article
  • DEMENTIA
  • PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION
  • cGMP
  • DEPENDENT PROTEIN-KINASE
  • Cognition
  • LONG-LASTING POTENTIATION
  • Muscarinic receptors
  • Biperiden
  • CONSOLIDATION
  • TRYPTOPHAN DEPLETION
  • sGC stimulator
  • CGMP
  • BAY 63-2521
  • VERBAL WORD MEMORY
  • INHIBITOR
  • Episodic memory

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