Effect of dihydroergosine (DHESN) on the serotoninergic system and behaviour: Is DHESN a new antidepressive agent?
✍ Scribed by Danka Peričié; Hari Manev; Sonja Levanat; Branimi Jernej; Dunja Vujić; Nebojša Djordjević
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1986
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 694 KB
- Volume
- 90
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0033-3158
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Acute (50.0 mg/kg) and repeated (0.1-10.0 mg/kg) administration of dihydroergosine (DHESN) to rats over 5 days lowered the concentration of 5-HIAA in the brain. DHESN given acutely increased the brain 5-HT in p-CPAtreated animals and diminished the probenecid-induced increase in brain 5-HIAA. In pargyline-treated rats DHESN enhanced the 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio. DHESN administered to rats repeatedly over 5 days decreased the level of 5-HT in blood platelets, and in vitro at concentrations of 10 -4 M and 10 3 M inhibited the uptake of [14C]-5-HT in platelets. DHESN (10.0-100.0 mg/kg) potentiated the 5-HT syndrome produced in rats by pargyline and 5-HTP. This potentiation was blocked with cyproheptadine but not with haloperidol. DHESN (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) lowered the locomotor activity of rats and 10.0 mg/kg DHESN also reduced the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim in a restricted space. The results indicate that DHESN, like antidepressants, decreases the turnover of serotonin in the brain and potentiates the 5-HT-mediated behaviour. This might suggest that the drug should be further investigated for its potential antidepressive properties.