Screening models for nootropics MCQs With Answer

Screening models for nootropics MCQs With Answer

Understanding screening models for nootropics is essential for B.Pharm students studying cognitive enhancement, pharmacological screening, and drug development. This introduction covers key concepts such as in vitro assays (cell lines, synaptosomal preparations), in vivo behavioral models (Morris water maze, Y‑maze, novel object recognition), mechanistic screens (cholinesterase inhibition, receptor binding, electrophysiology), and translational considerations like blood‑brain barrier permeability, pharmacokinetics, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation biomarkers. Familiarity with these models helps evaluate efficacy, safety, and mechanism of candidate nootropics. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which in vitro model is commonly used to assess synaptic vesicle release and neuronal connectivity when screening nootropics?

• Primary hippocampal neuron cultures
• Hepatocyte cultures
• Cardiomyocyte cell lines
• Fibroblast cultures

Correct Answer: Primary hippocampal neuron cultures

Q2. Which behavioral test is most appropriate for assessing spatial learning and memory in rodent nootropic studies?

• Morris water maze
• Forced swim test
• Tail flick test
• Hot plate test

Correct Answer: Morris water maze

Q3. The scopolamine-induced memory impairment model is primarily used to screen nootropics targeting which neurotransmitter system?

• Cholinergic system
• GABAergic system
• Glutamatergic system
• Dopaminergic system

Correct Answer: Cholinergic system

Q4. Which test evaluates working memory by measuring spontaneous alternation behavior in rodents?

• Y‑maze
• Elevated plus maze
• Open field test
• Rotarod

Correct Answer: Y‑maze

Q5. For early pharmacological screening of nootropics, which assay assesses acetylcholinesterase inhibition?

• Ellman’s colorimetric assay
• MTT cell viability assay
• Comet assay
• Luciferase reporter assay

Correct Answer: Ellman’s colorimetric assay

Q6. Which in vivo model is commonly used to study age-related cognitive decline when evaluating nootropic efficacy?

• Aged rodent models
• Neonatal mice
• Immature zebrafish larvae
• Invertebrate models

Correct Answer: Aged rodent models

Q7. Novel object recognition primarily assesses which type of memory?

• Recognition memory
• Procedural memory
• Auditory memory
• Reflex memory

Correct Answer: Recognition memory

Q8. Which parameter is critical to evaluate in nootropic screening to ensure brain exposure of a candidate drug?

• Blood‑brain barrier permeability
• Renal clearance only
• Skin permeability
• Gastrointestinal pH stability only

Correct Answer: Blood‑brain barrier permeability

Q9. Which biomarker is commonly measured to assess oxidative stress in neuroprotection screens for nootropics?

• Malondialdehyde (MDA)
• Hemoglobin A1c
• Serum creatinine
• Alkaline phosphatase

Correct Answer: Malondialdehyde (MDA)

Q10. Which electrophysiological technique evaluates synaptic plasticity relevant to memory during nootropic screening?

• Long‑term potentiation (LTP) recording
• Electrocardiography (ECG)
• Patch impedance cardiography
• Skin conductance recording

Correct Answer: Long‑term potentiation (LTP) recording

Q11. In high-throughput in vitro screening, which cell line is often used for initial neurotoxicity and neuroprotection assays?

• SH‑SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
• CHO kidney cells
• 3T3 fibroblasts
• HEK293 epithelial cells

Correct Answer: SH‑SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Q12. Which behavioral assay measures anxiety-like behavior that can confound cognitive testing if not controlled?

• Elevated plus maze
• Morris water maze
• Radial arm maze
• Novel object recognition

Correct Answer: Elevated plus maze

Q13. When screening a nootropic, why is pharmacokinetic profiling important?

• To determine absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination affecting brain exposure
• Only to measure toxicity at a single time point
• To identify taste preference in rodents
• To assess light sensitivity of the compound

Correct Answer: To determine absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination affecting brain exposure

Q14. Which test is suitable for evaluating reference memory and working memory in the same paradigm?

• Radial arm maze
• Forced swim test
• Hot plate test
• Conditioned place preference

Correct Answer: Radial arm maze

Q15. In screening models, measuring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) helps assess which nootropic effect?

• Neuroplasticity and synaptic health
• Renal filtration rate
• Glycemic control
• Cardiac contractility

Correct Answer: Neuroplasticity and synaptic health

Q16. Which chemical lesion model is used to mimic cholinergic deficits for nootropic testing?

• Selective lesion with 192 IgG‑saporin
• Kainic acid lesion of the spinal cord
Partial hepatectomy
• Subcutaneous capsaicin injection

Correct Answer: Selective lesion with 192 IgG‑saporin

Q17. Which in vitro assay evaluates mitochondrial function relevant to neuroprotection screening?

• Seahorse extracellular flux analysis
• Gram staining
• PCR for plasmid copy number
• ELISA for insulin

Correct Answer: Seahorse extracellular flux analysis

Q18. What is a major limitation of in vitro screening models for nootropics?

• Lack of full brain complexity and blood‑brain barrier context
• They are always more expensive than animal models
• They require human subjects
• They provide exact behavioral outcomes

Correct Answer: Lack of full brain complexity and blood‑brain barrier context

Q19. Which model uses acute sleep deprivation to study cognitive impairment for nootropic screening?

• Sleep deprivation model
• Osmotic shock model
• Thermal stress model
• Ultraviolet irradiation model

Correct Answer: Sleep deprivation model

Q20. How does measuring inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL‑1β, TNF‑α) aid nootropic screening?

• Indicates neuroinflammation level which may impair cognition
• Measures liver enzyme induction only
• Determines bone mineral density
• Evaluates muscle strength directly

Correct Answer: Indicates neuroinflammation level which may impair cognition

Q21. Which preclinical model is appropriate for rapid behavioral screening with high throughput and low cost?

• Zebrafish cognitive assays
• Nonhuman primate studies
• Large mammal surgical models
• Human clinical trials

Correct Answer: Zebrafish cognitive assays

Q22. Which outcome measure in electrophysiology correlates with enhanced synaptic efficacy relevant to nootropics?

• Increased amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)
• Decreased skin temperature
• Lowered blood glucose
• Increased urinary output

Correct Answer: Increased amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)

Q23. In target-based screening, which receptor family is commonly investigated for memory modulation?

• Glutamate NMDA receptors
• Insulin receptors in muscle
• Adiponectin receptors
• Thyroid hormone receptors in liver

Correct Answer: Glutamate NMDA receptors

Q24. During nootropic screening, which assay helps detect genotoxicity risk?

• Comet assay
• Open field locomotion
• Rotarod performance
• Passive avoidance latency

Correct Answer: Comet assay

Q25. Which pharmacodynamic marker would directly reflect cholinergic enhancement after a test nootropic?

• Decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue
• Increased serum creatinine
• Reduced heart rate variability
• Increased fecal output

Correct Answer: Decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue

Q26. For translational relevance, which aspect is essential when selecting animal cognitive models for nootropics?

• Face and construct validity with human cognitive processes
• Color of the animal’s fur
• Ability to survive in extreme cold
• Preference for certain diets

Correct Answer: Face and construct validity with human cognitive processes

Q27. Which technique allows visualization of blood‑brain barrier penetration of fluorescently labeled nootropics?

• Confocal microscopy of brain sections
• Ultrasound imaging of the liver
• DEXA scanning
• Surface electromyography

Correct Answer: Confocal microscopy of brain sections

Q28. Which metabolic enzyme system is most relevant for drug–drug interaction considerations in nootropic development?

• CYP450 enzyme system
• Hexokinase pathway
• Ribonuclease activity
• Collagenase system

Correct Answer: CYP450 enzyme system

Q29. Which outcome in the novel object recognition test indicates improved memory after treatment with a nootropic?

• Increased exploration time of the novel object versus the familiar object
• Decreased total locomotion only
• Higher body weight
• Reduced grooming behavior

Correct Answer: Increased exploration time of the novel object versus the familiar object

Q30. What is the advantage of combining behavioral and molecular endpoints in nootropic screening?

• Provides mechanistic insight and stronger evidence of cognitive efficacy
• Reduces study duration to a single hour
• Eliminates the need for statistical analysis
• Ensures no side effects will occur in humans

Correct Answer: Provides mechanistic insight and stronger evidence of cognitive efficacy

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com