Abstract
The effects of viloxazine (ICI 58,834), have been compared with those of three tricyclic anti-depressant drugs, imipramine (IMI), amitryptyline (AMI) and desmethylimipramine (DMI) on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) of normal i.e. untreated cats, and also cats pretreated with either parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) or α-methyl- para-tyrosine. In the untreated animals IMI and AMI had similar effects, causing increased synchronization in the ECoG with increasing dose until eventually effects of sensory stimulation were blocked. DMI, in low doses caused synchronization and in higher doses desynchronization although some synchrony was sometimes present. Viloxazine caused desynchronization at low doses and synchronization at higher doses. Whenever synchrony was present in the ECoG, injection of methiothepin was able to reverse it. In PCPA-treated animals, in which the control ECoG was desynchronized, IMI and AMI still induced synchronization but higher doses were required; DMI and viloxazine were without effect on the ECoG. AMPT-pretreated animals had synchronized ECoG's, and IMI and AMI were effective in lower doses than in untreated animals; DMI had similar effects to IMI and AMI i.e. its desynchronizing action was absent, but viloxazine caused pronounced desynchronization. It is suggested that the ECoG synchronizing effects of the anti-depressant drugs may be related to stimulation of 5-HT mechanisms in the brain, while desynchronizing effects are related to stimulation of noradrenergic (NA) systems. On this basis, the ECoG effects of IMI and AMI appear to be mainly on 5-HT mechanisms, those of viloxazine predominantly on NA systems, and DMI equally active on both.
Published Version
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