POTENTIATION OF THE BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTOPHAN BY BW-1370U87, A SELECTIVE MONOAMINE OXIDASE-A INHIBITOR

BW 1370U87, a novel, selective, reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibit or, was tested in the 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) potentiation test in mice and rats to establish its activity following systemic administra tion, to determine its duration of action and to determine if its effe cts were reversible in vivo. The behavioral effects of a threshold dos e of 5-HTP were potentiated by BW 1370U87 in mice with ED50s ot 3.4 mg /kg i.p. and 18.4 mg/kg p.o. 5-HTP potentiation occurred in rats with an ED50 of 10.4 mg/kg p.o. BW 1370U87 (20 mg/kg) was active 9 hr but n ot 16 hr following oral administration, consistent with reversible enz yme inhibition.