Effects of N-hydroxyethyl-pyrrolidinium methiodide, a choline analogue, on passive avoidance behaviour in mice

N-Hydroxyethyl-pyrrolidinium methiodide (pyrrolcholine) administered intraventricularly impaired passive avoidance learning in mice. This effect of pyrrolcholine was antagonized by choline and hemicholinium-3, potentiated by scopolamine, and depending upon the time of injection, either potentiated or antagonized by physostigmine. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that pyrrolcholine disrupts central cholinergic pathways by a presynaptic mechanism. Based on metabolism studies, both in vitro and in vivo, it is postulated that the action of pyrrolcholine is mediated via acetylpyrrolcholine, a putative cholinergic false transmitter.