BGC20-761, a novel tryptamine analog, enhances memory consolidation and reverses scopolamine-induced memory deficit in social and visuospatial memory tasks through a 5-HT6 receptor-mediated mechanism

Inhibition of 5-HT6 receptors has been shown to improve memory consolidation, thus we tested whether a novel tryptamine analog with high affinity for 5-HT6 receptors, BGC20-761 (5-methoxy-2-phenyl-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, PMDT), can enhance long-term memory. BGC20-761 (10 mg/kg i.p.) alone had no effect on social recognition in young rats, however, at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg i.p, BGC20-761 dose-dependently reversed a deficit of social recognition induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p.), an anticholinergic drug that impairs memory. BGC20-761 (10 mg/kg i.p.), scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) or BGC20-761 + scopolamine had no effects on novel object discrimination in young rats (2 months). In mature rats (6 months), recognition of the novel object was improved following administration of BGC20-761. Scopolamine had no effect in object recognition. However, the addition of scopolamine disrupted the memory-enhancing effect of BGC20-761. Based on the high affinity of BGC20-761 for 5-HT6 receptors, these cognitive enhancing effects are most likely mediated by 5-HT6 receptor inhibition. The difference in effects of BGC20-761 in young vs. mature rats may reflect the status of memory consolidation in these different age ranges.