NOVEL TRYPTOPHAN DIOXYGENASE INHIBITORS AND COMBINED TRYPTOPHAN DIOXYGENASE 5-HT REUPTAKE INHIBITORS/

Tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO) is a liver enzyme that is responsible for the majority of the metabolism of tryptophan. A series of novel 3-(2- pyridylethenyl)indoles are shown to be potent inhibitors of TDO with s elected members of the series also having 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) reuptake inhibitory activity. These compounds are shown to provide sig nificant increases in the levels of tryptophan and 5-HT in the cerebro spinal fluid and are thus of interest for antidepressant therapy. Copy right (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd