UCB 29120, A NOVEL, POTENTIAL PSYCHOTROPIC AGENT, ALTERS NOREPINEPHRINE AND DOPAMINE CONTENT OF RAT-BRAIN

UCB 29120 belongs to a novel family of compounds possessing interestin g behavioral and physiological properties. Behavioral studies in the r at have revealed the ability of the compound to inhibit scopolamine-in duced amnesia while physiological studies demonstrated a significant d rug-induced hypothermic response and increased corticosterone plasma l evels following acute administration of the compound. In the present s tudy we examined the time-course effects of acute administration of UC B 29120 on levels of catecholamines (norepinephrine, NE; dopamine, DA) , indoleamines (serotonin, 5-HT) and metabolites (3,4-diydroxyphenylac etic acid, DOPAC; 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-HIAA) in the rat hypot halamus. Hippocampal, septal and striatal tissue content of the same w ere also examined at the longest time point employed. In the hypothala mus, UCB 29120 induced significant decreases in NE content 30 min foll owing administration which persisted for at least an additional 30 min , while significant increases in DA and/or DOPAC (and the DOPAC/DA rat io) were measured as early as 5 min following administration and persi sted through at least a total of 120 min. Similar, significant changes in dopaminergic parameters were also evident in the other three brain regions at 120 min post-administration. No significant alterations in hypothalamic 5-HT or 5-HIAA were measured at any time point. Acute ad ministration of UCB 29120 may selectively influence catecholaminergic neurotransmitter systems in rat brain.