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Possible melatonin involvement in the hypotensive effect of MAO inhibitors

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Summary

Effect of selective inhibitors of MAO-A and B isoenzymes on pineal melatonin (and related indoles), arterial blood pressure and brain MAO-A and B activities has been evaluated in intact, pinealectomized and shamoperated rats.

Selective inhibition of MAO-A but not MAO-B activity stimulated pineal melatonin synthesis and decreased arterial blood pressure in intact and sham-operated animals. Pinealectomy attenuated the hypotensive effect of MAO-A inhibition.

The possible melatonin contribution to both antidepressive and hypotensive effects of MAO inhibitors is discussed.

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Oxenkrug, G.F., McCauley, R.B., Fontana, D.J. et al. Possible melatonin involvement in the hypotensive effect of MAO inhibitors. J. Neural Transmission 66, 271–280 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260919

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260919

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