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Modification of the effect of some central stimulants in mice pretreated with α-methyl-l-tyrosine

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Summary

In mice treated with α-methyltyrosine (AMT) so as to deplete the brain norepinephrine by 65 percent of the normal, the central stimulant effects of d-amphetamine, morphine, mescaline and cocaine were significantly reduced. The effects were evaluated by observing the spontaneous motor activity, the degree of eye closure and rectal temperature of mice. The hypermotility and hyperthermia caused by lysergic acid diethylamide remained unaffected by AMT treatment. Desmethylimipramine failed to antagonize the sedation produced by repeated doses of AMT which lowered brain norepinephrine by 95 percent. These results showed that except that of lysergic acid diethylamide, the central stimulant effects of other drugs and the antidepressant effect of desmethylimipramine were mediated through norepinephrine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur, India

    M. K. Menon, P. C. Dandiya & J. S. Bapna

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  1. M. K. Menon
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  2. P. C. Dandiya
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  3. J. S. Bapna
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Menon, M.K., Dandiya, P.C. & Bapna, J.S. Modification of the effect of some central stimulants in mice pretreated with α-methyl-l-tyrosine. Psychopharmacologia 10, 437–444 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403985

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403985

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