Preclinical Research

In the present study, the mechanism of action of MMPP (1‐(4‐methoxy‐2‐methylphenyl) piperazine) in the acquisition (pretraining administration), formation (posttraining administration), and consolidation (pretest administration) of memory was assessed in the passive avoidance test using a short‐ and long‐term memory protocol in mice. MMPP modified avoidance in the acquisition and formation of memory protocols but not in the consolidation protocol. Scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg i.p.), dizocilpine (0.003 mg/kg i.p.), and buspirone (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) completely inhibited MMPP‐induced effects on memory acquisition and partially inhibited memory formation in the short‐term but not long‐term paradigm. This suggested that cholinergic, N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐1A (5‐HT 1A ) receptors were implicated in the MMPP‐induced improvements in memory. The sedative, anxiolytic, motor impairment, myorelaxant, and anticonvulsive (pentylenetetrazole‐induced seizures) properties of MMPP were also assessed with the compound only showing a nondose‐dependent myorelaxation. These results suggest that MMPP can enhance acquisition and formation, but not consolidation, of memory in short‐term and long‐term protocol via cholinergic, NMDA‐glutamatergic, and 5‐HT 1A receptors.