Abstract
In mice, quipazine has shown several behavioral effects: It antagonizes hypothermia induced by a high dose of apomorphine without altering climbing or stereotyped behavior; it antagonizes oxotremorine-induced hypothermia without altering tremors or peripheral signs; and it increases the toxicity of yohimbine. These three responses are considered to be predictive of an antidepressive action; in these three tests the effects of quipazine are inhibited by d,l-propranolol but not by d-propranolol or methysergide. Quipazine, in mice pretreated with pargyline, induced head twitches which were inhibited by methysergide but not by d,l-propranolol. Quipazine, in addition to its well-known serotonergic effects, seems to have beta-adrenergic properties which should be kept in mind when this drug is used as a pharmacological tool and which suggest that the beta-adrenergic system is implied in depression.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Francès, H., Puech, A. J., Simon, P.: Profil psychopharmacologique de l'isoprénaline et du salbutamol. J. Pharmacol. 9, 25–34 (1978)
Grabowska, M., Antkiewicz, L., Michaluk, J.: The influence of quipazine on the turnover rate of serotonin. Biochem. Pharmacol. 23, 3211–3212 (1974)
Hamon, M., Bourgoin, S., Enjalbert, A., Bockaert, J., Hery, F., Ternaux, J. P., Glowinski, J.: The effects of quipazine on 5-HT metabolism in the rat brain. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol. 296, 5–14 (1976)
Hong, E., Sancilio, L. F., Vargas, R., Pardo, E. G.: Similarities between the pharmacological actions of quipazine and serotonin. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 6, 274–280 (1969)
Jacoby, J. H., Howd, R. A., Levin, M. S., Wurtman, R. J.: Mechanism by which quipazine, a putative serotonin receptor agonist, alters brain 5-hydroxyindole metabolism. Neuropharmacology 15, 529–534 (1976)
Lecrubier, Y., Jouvent, R., Puech, A. J., Simon, P., Widlöcher, D.: Effet antidépresseur d'un stimulant bêta-adrénergique. Nouv. Presse Med. 6, 2786 (1977)
Malick, J. B., Doren, E., Barnett, A.: Quipazine-induced head twitch in mice. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 6, 325–329 (1977)
Porsolt, R. D., Le Pichon, M., Jalfre, M.: Depression: A new animal model sensitive to antidepressant treatments. Nature 266, 730–732 (1977)
Puech, A. J., Francès, H., Simon, P.: Imipramine antagonism of apomorphine-induced hypothermia: A non-dopaminergic interaction. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 47, 125–127 (1978)
Quinton, R. M.: The increase in the toxicity of yohimbine induced by imipramine and other drugs in mice. Br. J. Pharmacol. 21, 51–66 (1963)
Quock, R. M., Beal, G. A., Chan, E. L. F.: Quipazine: A serotonergic hyperthermic agent in the rabbit. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 28, 170–172 (1976)
Rodriguez, R., Pardo, E. G.: Quipazine, a new type of antidepressant agent. Psychopharmacologia 21, 89–100 (1971)
Rodriguez, R.: Antagonism of tremorine-induced tremor by serotonergic agents in mice: Interaction with levodopa. Life Sci. 13, 685–691 (1972)
Rodriguez, R., Rojas-Ramirez, J. A., Drucker-Colin, R. R.: Serotonin-like actions of quipazine on the central nervous system. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 24, 164–171 (1973)
Souto, M., Francès, H., Lecrubier, Y., Puech, A. J., Simon, P.: Antagonism by d-l-propranolol of imipramine effects in animals. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 60, 105–108 (1979)
Weinstock, M., Weiss, C., Gitter, S.: Blockade of 5-HT receptors in the CNS by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. Neuropharmacology 16, 273–276 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Francès, H., Lecrubier, Y., Puech, A.J. et al. Evidence for the role of noradrenaline in some effects of quipazine. Psychopharmacology 67, 307–310 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431273
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431273