[The Effect of memantine on spinal alpha-motoneurons and on the content of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the striatum and lumbar spinal cord].

In the present paper the pharmacological effect of 1,3-dimethyl-5-aminoadamantane (DMAA, D-145, memantine, Memantine was investigated on the reflex activity of spinal alpha-motoneurones of the cat and on spontaneous hyperactivity of alpha-motoneurones of spastic Han-Wist rats. The activity of both systems is reduced by the drug. Furthermore the content of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin of striatum and lumbar spinal cord of normals and mutants is dose dependently decreased. It is assumed that memantine depresses the activation of central nervous membranes and reduces repetitive discharges of axons and in addition acts by release of neurotransmitters.