Aniracetam’s Mechanism of Action: An AMPA Modulator That Largely Arrives as Its Metabolites
In a patch-clamp rig the parent compound is a clean modulator of AMPA receptor desensitisation. In a rat, oral bioavailability is under 12% and the brain-to-plasma exposure ratio is roughly 3%. The metabolite 2-pyrrolidinone reaches 53-55%, and the cholinergic effects belong to N-anisoyl-GABA, not to the parent.
