Gj. Amabeoku, THE INVOLVEMENT OF NORADRENALINE, 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE AND ACETYLCHOLINE IN IMIPRAMINE-INDUCED SEIZURES IN MICE, Experientia, 49(10), 1993, pp. 859-864
The influence of some noradrenergic, 5-hydroxytryptaminergic and choli
nergic agents on imipramine-induced seizures were investigated in mice
. DL-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) and pargyline significantl
y potentiated imipramine-induced seizures. Phentolamine and prazosin s
ignificantly attenuated seizures elicited by imipramine and significan
tly attenuated the seizure-enhancing effect of DOPS. Alpha-Methyl-p-ty
rosine and reserpine significantly attenuated seizures induced by imip
ramine. Disulfiram significantly protected mice against imipramine-ind
uced seizures. However, DOPS significantly potentiated seizures induce
d by imipramine in disulfiram-pretreated animals. Clonidine effectivel
y protected mice against imipramine-induced seizures. Idazoxan, on the
other hand, significantly protentiated seizures induced by imipramine
and significantly antagonised the protective effect of clonidine agai
nst the seizures. 5-HTP, PCPA, cyproheptadine, mianserin, ketanserin a
nd trazodone did not affect imipramine-induced seizures to any signifi
cant extent. Physostigmine antagonised seizures induced by imipramine
while atropine significantly potentiated the seizures, and significant
ly attenuated the protective effect of physostigmine against the seizu
res. These data suggest that enhancement and attenuation of central no
radrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmissions respectively, and not 5
-HT mechanisms, may underlie imipramine-induced seizures in mice.