Interaction between phenylalkylamine derivatives and reserpine

Abstract

The interaction between phenylalkylamines and reserpine was studied on rats and cats be examination of the pressor and basal metabolic rate enhancing action of amphetamine, the psychostimulant and basal metabolic rate enhancing actions of ortho-bromo-methyl-amphetamine (V-104), and the pressor, psychotomimetic, basal metabolic rate enhancing and EEG-actions of para-bromo-methylamphetamine (V-111) and para-chloro-methylamphetamine(S-33). In all measurements of the effects of the compounds it was observed that if 0·5 mg/kg of reserpine was administered subcutaneously after the end of the phenylalkylamine effects, all central and peripheral effects reappeared with the equal intensity to that which could be expected from a repeated dose of the particular phenylalkylamine derivative. This phenomenon is thoughy to be due to the inactive bonding of the major part of the phenylalkylamine molecules on the receptor area from where they are released by reserpine into the active state. No such phenomenon may be observed after chronic reserpine pretreatment. Thus, it is suggested that chronic reserpine treatment enhances the sensitivity of the central nervous system to phenylalkylamines.