Animal experiment:

Rats[1] Adult Sprague-Dawley female rats (weight 300-330 g) are used. Procyclidine given systemically causes a transient increase in locomotor activity (mainly non-ambulatory fine movements) in adult rats. Locomotor activity data (ambulations, fine movements) are evaluated using a two-way ANOVA to test whether co-administration of clonidine (0.025 mg/kg) with various doses of Procyclidine (10, 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg) altered the activity levels compared to the same doses of Procyclidine administered alone. A one-way ANOVA and subsequent comparisons are also conducted to establish whether the activity levels for each treatment group are different from saline controls.

Procyclidine hydrochloride is a potent anti-cholinergic agent, and is also known to have NMDA antagonist properties.

Procyclidine widely used as anti-parkinsonian agents because of their anti-cholinergic action, is also known to have NMDA antagonist properties. Unlike other NMDA antagonists, these agents-because of their anti-cholinergic action-are devoid of neurotoxic side effects. Procyclidine alleviates thermal hyperalgesia in a dose dependent manner; when a marginally effective dose of the agent is combined with an ineffective dose of an alpha(2) adrenergic agonist (Clonidine or Guanabenz), the combination therapy provides effective and long-lasting relief from neuropathic pain[1].

[1]. Jevtovic-Todorovic V, et al. Anti-parkinsonian agents procyclidine and ethopropazine alleviate thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic rats. Neuropharmacology. 2003 May;44(6):739-48.