EFFECTS OF L-ALPHA-GLYCERYLPHOSPHORYLCHOLINE ON THE EEG POWER SPECTRUM IN THE RAT

The effects of L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC), a putative acetylcholine precursor, on the EEG power spectrum in rats were investigated. The results show that the oral administration of alpha-GPC (100-300-600 mg/kg) induced a significant decrease in absolute spectral energy in the delta frequency band. A significant increase in absolute spectral energy in the beta frequency band was elicited by alpha-GPC at dose levels of 100 and 300 mg/kg, while the administration of a higher dose (600 mg/kg) of this compound resulted in the loss of response (bell-shaped dose-response curve). No significant changes in the EEG power spectrum were found in rats treated with phosphatidylcholine (PC). The present data, suggesting that the electrocorticographic (ECoG) activation elicited by alpha-GPC may be correlated with its stimulatory effect on brain acetylcholine release, further extend the pharmacological profile of this new cognition enhancer.