Behavioral effects and general pharmacology of 4-(5-chloro-benzofuranyl-2)-1-methylpiperidine HC1, an antidepressant inhibiting both monoamine oxidase A and 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake.

In psychopharmacological tests in rats and mice, 4-(5-chloro-benzofuranyl-2)-1-methylpiperidine HC1 (CGP 4718 A) was found to exert behavioral effects typical of both monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake inhibitors (reserpine antagonism, L-5-HTP potentiation, antiaggressive activity in isolated mice). The potential antidepressant activity of the drug was indicated in rats by antagonism of reserpine and its effect in the social-conflict test. CGP 4718 A did not impair motor coordination and had no influence on locomotor activity up to high doses in mice and rats. In monkeys, it increased directed individual activities, including sex-related behaviors and diminished locomotor activity and passivity. Electroencephalographic studies in cats revealed a significant decrease in paradoxical sleep after treatment with CGP 4718 A. In isolated organs, no significant antagonism of norepinephrine, 5-HT, acetylcholine or histamine was found. Cardiovascular studies in cats showed only transient effects on blood pressure and no effect on heart rate. In conscious dogs no cardiovascular effects were found. No potentiation of the pressor effect of tyramine in rats was detectable after repeated doses of up to 300 mg/kg p.o. A weak cardiodepressant effect was seen in isolated guinea pig atria. In conclusion, in animal experiments CGP 4718 A combines an interesting spectrum of antidepressant, activating and antiaggressive properties with a lack of cardiovascular and tyramine-potentiating effects.

Correlations between different measures of antiserotonin activity of drugs. Study with neuroleptics and serotonin receptor blockers.

The antiserotonin properties of a series of neuroleptics, 5-HT-receptor blockers and some adrenoceptor antagonists were investigated in several in vivo test systems (L-5-HTP syndrome and 5-HT-paw edema in the rat) and in an in vitro test (isolated rat uterus preparation). The results were compared to the results obtained with these drugs in an in vivo 3H-spiperone binding assay in the rat. The computations of the relative ED50 (or IC50) values obtained in different test procedures showed that the ability of drugs to bind to 5-HT receptors labelled by 3H-spiperone in the rat frontal cortex correlates fairly well with their potencies to inhibit the L-5-HTP syndrome or 5-HT-induced rat pawedema (Spearman rank correlation coefficient, r = 0.80 and 0.79 respectively, n = 22). In an in vitro test (rat uterus) the estimated 5-HT-receptor blocking potency of the tested drugs did not, however, correlate with any of the in vivo measures used for this purpose. The results suggest, therefore, that for the determination of central antiserotonin effects of drugs in the rat, functional in vivo tests (L-5-HTP syndrome or 5-HT-induced rat paw-edema) could yield about the same information as the specific, in vivo 3H-spiperone binding assay. The 5-HT-receptor type mediating the behavioral responses to L-5-HTP is tentatively defined as a 5-HT2 receptor.