BESIPIRDINE (HP-749) REDUCES SCHEDULE-INDUCED-POLYDIPSIA IN RATS

The aim of the present paper is to report on the adrenergic and seroto nergic effects of besipirdine (HP 749) in vivo and to discuss its pote ntial use in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, Besipirdi ne inhibited biogenic amine uptake in vitro, It prevented tetrabenazin e-induced ptosis in mice and potentiated the 5-hydroxytryptophan-induc ed serotonin syndrome in rats, Furthermore, it decreased schedule-indu ced polydipsic behavior in rats, Schedule-induced polydipsia may be a model for obsessive compulsive disorder. Previous results from our gro up have shown that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors dec rease schedule-induced polydipsia after 14-21 days of treatment. Besip irdine reduced schedule-induced polydipsic behavior immediately and th is reduction lasted throughout the duration of the experiment (29 days ).