Abstract
The effects of brofaremine (CGP 11 305A), a short-acting, reversible and selective inhibitor of MAO-A, on sleep, nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and hormonal secretion during the night were studied during a long-term trial. Three healthy males underwent sleep-EEG and NPT recordings during consecutive nights (1) under placebo, (2) under stepwise increasing dosages of brofaremine and (3) under placebo after withdrawal. Hormone profiles were sampled during selected nights to analyze the plasma concentration of cortisol, HGH, prolactin, testosterone, LH and FSH. REM sleep was suppressed markedly under 150 mg brofaremine, while stages 1 and 2 increased. In comparison to the effect of irreversible MAOIs the REM suppression was shorter and did not persist after withdrawal. A decrease of the plasma concentration of the drug coincided with a return of sleep variables to baseline values. A REM rebound occurred after withdrawal of brofaremine. REM sleep and NPT showed a dissociation; NPT variables did not follow the decrease of REM sleep. The effects of REM parameters are correlated with the dosage and the plasma concentration of the substance. Intraindividually, a decrease in secretion of HGH was observed throughout the trial. No marked changes were found in the other endocrinological variables.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akindele MO, Evans JI, Oswald I (1970) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, sleep and mood. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 29:47–56
von Bardeleben U, Steiger A, Gerken A, Holsboer F (1986) Pharmacoendocrine and sleep-EEG characteristics of fluoxetine in normal controls. Br J Clin Pract [Suppl 46] 40:34–40
Chen CN (1979) Sleep, depression and antidepressants. Br J Psychiatry 135:385–402
Cohen RM, Pickar D, Garnett D, Lippos S, Gillin JC, Murphy DL (1982) REM sleep suppression induced by selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Psychopharmacology 78:137–140
Fisher C, Kahn E, Edwards A et al. (1972) Total suppression of REM sleep with the MAO inhibitor Nardil in a subject with painful nocturnal REM-P erection. Psychophysiology 9:91
Jarrett DB, Coble PA, Kupfer DJ (1983) Reduced cortisol latency in depressive illness. Arch Gen Psychiatry 40:506
Johnston JP (1968) Some observations upon a new inhibitor of monoamine oxidase in brain tissue. Biochem Pharmacol 17:1285–1297
Karacan I, Williams RL, Thornby RL, Salis PJ (1975) Sleep related penile tumescence as a function of age. Am J Psychiatry 132:932–937
Rechtschaffen A, Kales A (eds) (1968) A manual of standardized terminology techniques and scoring system for sleep stages of human subjects. US Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare, Neurological Information Network, Bethesda
Vogel GW, Thurmond A, Gibbons P, Sloan K, Boyd M, Walker M (1975) REM sleep reduction effects on depression syndromes. Arch Gen Psychiatry 32:765–777
Waldmeier PC, Baumann PA, Stula-Delini A, Bernasconi R, Sigg K, Buech O, Felner AE (1983) Characterization of a new, short-acting and specific inhibitor of type A monoamine oxidase. Mod Probl Pharmacopsychiatry 19:31–52
Weitzman ED (1976) Circadian rhythms and episodic hormone secretion in man. Annu Rev Med 27:225–243
Wyatt RJ, Fram DH, Kupfer DJ, Snyder F (1971) Total prolonged drug-induced REM sleep suppression in anxious-depressed patients. Arch Gen Psychiatry 24:145–155
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Steiger, A., Holsboer, F. & Benkert, O. Effects of brofaremine (CGP 11 305A), a short-acting, reversible, and selective inhibitor of MAO-A on sleep, nocturnal penile tumescence and nocturnal hormonal secretion in three healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology 92, 110–114 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215489
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215489