Donepezil (Aricept) is a piperidine-based, potent, specific, and reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It can be used for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

AChE (bovine):8.12 nM, AChE (human):11.6 nM

Cell lines: retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Concentrations: 0.1-10 μM. Incubation Time: 3 days. RGC survival after exposure to each reagent (glutamate, donepezil, tacrine, galanthamine, and HA14-1) is measured by calcein-AM staining after 3 days in culture, Briefly, cells are incubated in 1 μM calcein-AM in PBS for 15 minutes at 37℃. After the medium is replaced with fresh PBS, cells are examined under a fluorescence microscope using a fluorescein filter. The total number of surviving RGCs defined as cells with a calcein-AM stained cell body and a process extending at least two cell diameters from the cell body is counted in each well. The number of surviving RGCs without any drug served as a control.

Animal Models: male C57BL/6 wild-type and CGRP(?/?) mice (10-12 weeks old, 21–24 g). Formulation: added to the food powder. Dosages: 1.5 mg/kg (i.g.)