We compared the effects of YM796 [(-)-S-2,8-dimethyl-3-methylene-1-oxa-8- azaspiro[4,5]-decane L-tartrate monohydrate], a novel muscarinic agonist, on passive avoidance response with those of the cholinomimetics AF102B [(+/-)-cis-2-methylspiro-(1,3-oxathiolane-5,3')-quinuclidine hydrochloride] and NIK247 [9-amino-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro1H-cyclopenta(b)- quinoline monohydrate hydrochloride] in senescence-accelerated mice. SAMP8@YAN (SAM-P/8, senescence-accelerated-prone substrain) showed an age-dependent shortening in the latency of step-through when compared with SAMR1/YAN (SAM-R/1, senescence-accelerated-resistant substrain). The shortened latency of step-through in SAMP8@YAN was prolonged by administration of YM796 (0.3 and 1 mg/kg, PO), AF102B (3 and 10 mg/kg PO), and NIK247 (30 mg/kg, PO) in a bell-shaped manner. In contrast, amitriptyline (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg, PO), with cholinolytic properties, had no effect on this shortened latency of step-through. These results suggest that YM796, AF102B, and NIK247 ameliorated the disturbance of learning behavior, presumably due to facilitation of the central cholinergic system in SAMP8@YAN mice and that SAMP8@YAN may be an appropriate age-dependent model of amnesia for evaluating pharmacological actions of drugs.