Tranylcypromine: Effects on Norepinephrine Metabolism in Rat Brain

¹ Neuropsychopharmacology laboratory, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, 74 Fenwood Rd., Boston, Mass. 02115, assistant professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

This investigation examines the effects of tranylcypromine on the uptake, release, and metabolism of intracisternally administered tritiated norepinephrine (norepinephrine-H³) in rat brain. The findings suggest that, in addition to being a potent inhibitor of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, tranylcypromine discharges norepinephrine extraneuronally onto receptors and possibly also inhibits the neuronal reuptake of this amine. These neuropharmacological effects of tranylcypromine may possibly account for the greater clinical efficacy of tranylcypromine in the treatment of some depressed patients and the higher incidence of hypertensive cerebrovascular reactions when this drug is compared with other monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Schildkraut, P. R. Draskoczy, and P. S. Lo Norepinephrine Pools in Rat Brain: Differences in Turnover Rates and Pathways of Metabolism Science, May 7, 1971; 172(3983): 587 - 589. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. J. Schildkraut, A. Winokur, and C. W. Applegate Norepinephrine Turnover and Metabolism in Rat Brain after Long-Term Administration of Imipramine Science, May 15, 1970; 168(3933): 867 - 869. [Abstract] [PDF]

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