Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contrasting locomotor effects of catecholamine releasers and tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors in MAO-inhibited mice

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors l-α-methyltyrosine (α-MT) and m-iodo-l-α-methyltyrosine (m-I-α-MT) failed to produce hyperactivity in mice pretreated with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. In contrast, the amine releasers d,l-α-methyl-m-tyrosine and tetrabenazine caused pronunced stimulation in MAO-inhibited mice. These results are consistent with the view that norepinephrine depletion produced by α-MT and m-I-α-MT is the result of inhibition of biosynthesis and not of a release mechanism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Carlton, P. L.: Behavioral stimulation due to α-methyl meta-tyrosine. Nature (Lond.) 200, 586–587 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Heise, G. A., and E. Boff: Behavioral determination of time and dose parameters of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 129, 155–162 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mead, J. A. R., and K. F. Finger: A single extraction method for the determination of both norepinephrine and serotonin in brain. Biochem. Pharmacol. 6, 52–53 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pletscher, A.: Release of 5-hydroxytryptamine by benzoquinolizine derivatives with sedative action. Science 126, 507 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheckel, C. L., and E. Boff: Behavioral Stimulation in rats associated with a selective release of brain norepinephrine. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 152, 479–490 (1964).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, S., A. Sjoerdsma, and S. Udenfriend: Blockade of endogenous norepinephrine synthesis by α-methyl-tyrosine, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 147, 86–95 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Rossum, J. M.: Mechanism of the central stimulant action of α-methyl-metatyrosine. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 4, 271–280 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and J. A. Th. M. Hurkmans: Reversal of the effect of α-methyldopa by monoamine oxidase inhibitors. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 15, 493–499 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Udenfriend, S., P. Zaltzman-Nirenberg, and T. Nagatsu: Inhibitors of purified beef adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. Biochem. Pharmacol. 14, 837–845 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, A., and B. K. Koe: Behavioral effects of l-α-methyltyrosine, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. Life Sci. 4, 1037–1048 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • — — and S. S. Tenen: Antiamphetamine effects following inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 151, 339–352 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., Groton, Conn.

    Albert Weissman & B. Kenneth Koe

Authors
  1. Albert Weissman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Kenneth Koe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Weissman, A., Koe, B.K. Contrasting locomotor effects of catecholamine releasers and tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors in MAO-inhibited mice. Psychopharmacologia 11, 282–286 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405235

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405235

Keywords

Search

Navigation