Synthesis of Valproyl-2-Pyrrolidinone and its Evaluation as a Cognitive Drug with the Ability to Modulate Acidic Amino Acids in the Brain

Abstract

A new pyrrolidinone derivative, valproyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP), was synthesized, followed by evaluation as a cognitive drug. VP gave rise to a significant protective effect against cerebral anoxia together with a potent prolongation of latency time for the reversal of scopolamine induced transient disruption of the memory of a passive avoidance response in rats. The quantitative experiment using HPLC demonstrated a significant reduction of hippocampal aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) following the intraperitoneal administration of VP at a dose of 300 mg/kg. © 1990, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.