Effects of nootropic drugs on some behavioural and biochemical changes after early postnatal hypoxia in the rat.

Piracetam (PIR) and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) were tested with respect to their ability to prevent changes of the locomotor behaviour and of the dopamine release from striatum slices after an intermittent postnatal hypoxia in the rat (2nd-10th day of postnatal life). The drugs given to pregnant rats (from 12th day of gestation) and continued after delivery to the newborns (till 10th day of postnatal life) displayed antihypoxic effects. Perinatal DMAE- but not PIR-treatment diminishes the consequences of postnatal oxygen deprivation regarding the motor activity as well as the dopamine release of adult animals. Hypoxia-caused open field hyperactivity of developing rats was found to be reduced to control values in PIR-treated rats. Only minor effects were seen after DMAE-treatment, but a marked depressant own effect on the explorative activity was detectable.