ABSTRACT
Four groups, each of six adult male albino rats received daily the antidepressant maprotiline 13.5 mg/kg, or the nootropic piracetam 450.0 mg/kg, or the combination of both treatments or the vehicle orally for 4 weeks, respectively. Twenty four hours after the last dose, blood samples were obtained for the colorimetric estimation of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT], alkaline phosphatase [AP], creatinine and the radioimmunoassay [RIA] of circulating cyclic 3',5' adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] and prostaglandin PGF 2 alpha. Cerebral levels of PGF 2 alpha were also determined by RIA. All treatments did not pathologically change the level of serum GPT, AP or creatinine. However, they potently reduced circulating cAMP by about 90%, but markedly elevated circulating PGF 2 alpha to about 3 folds control values. On the other hand, brain level of PGF 2 alpha was not affected by maprotiline but was elevated by 43% and 128% over control values in response to piracetam and its combination with maprotiline, respectively. It was concluded that this drug combination did not adversely affect the hepatorenal function. The probable role of PGF 2 alpha in the mechanism of the nootropic action of piracetam may indicate that its combined administration with the antidepressant maprotiline may be advantageous but should be carefully monitored