Peripheral cholinoceptor antagonist anisodamine counteracts cholinergic adverse effects and facilitates cognitive amelioration of rivastigmine

Rivastigmine is a potent acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor widely used for cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapy. However, dose-limiting adverse effects restrict its tolerability and clinical outcomes. This study explored new combined therapy, in which peripheral cholinergic adverse effects and central cognitive amelioration of rivastigmine were differentiated by a peripheral cholinoceptor antagonist anisodamine. The results demonstrated that rivastigmine (0.75 and 2.0 mg/kg) could significantly reverse the scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit in mice through passive avoidance test. Nevertheless, a high dose of rivastigmine (3.25 mg/kg) would compromise cognitive amelioration and produce obvious adverse effects, including hypersalivation, intestinal hyperperistalsis and muscle cramp. Interestingly, concomitant administration of anisodamine (10 mg/kg) effectively counteracted both the muscarinergic and nicotinergic adverse effects, while facilitating cognitive amelioration of rivastigmine (3.25 mg/kg). These findings provide an insight into the feasibility of combined therapy with cholinesterase inhibitors and peripheral cholinoceptor antagonists for the treatment of AD.