Catalepsy induced by α-methyl-p-tyrosine andd-amphetamine: The rÔle of catecholamine metabolism
✍ Scribed by A. C. Sayers; Sheila L. Handley
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1974
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 580 KB
- Volume
- 34
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0033-3158
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The effect of inhibition of monoamine oxidase (M_AO), catechol-Omethyltransferase (COMT) and Dopa-decarboxylase on the catalepsy induced by d-amphetamine in ~-methyl-p-tyrosine (a-MpT) treated rats has been investigated.
Administration of an MAO inhibitor concomitant with a-MpT slightly antagonized the cataleptic state, but when given 2 h later was without an appreciable effect. Only when an inhibitor was injected at an extremely high dose level 18 h prior to a-MpT did catalepsy fail to develop.
Following COMT inhibition the cataleptic state was enhanced. After Dopa deearboxylase inhibition the catalepsy developed as usual for the first 3 h postamphetamine, but then declined in intensity.
It is concluded that neither deaminated nor O-methylated products are re. sponsible for the development of catalepsy. In fact, the indication is that the catalepsy may be antagonised by an O-methylated derivative. A possible explanation for the action of the Dopa decarboxylase inhibitor is discussed.