INTERACTION OF DRUGS WITH APOMORPHINE, TRYPTAMINE AND NOREPINEPHRINE - NEW INVIVO APPROACH - ATN-TEST IN RATS

Abstract

A new experimental test procedure is described for the in vivo study of drug interactions with dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). Within certain dosage limits, compounds may modulate specifically a single component of the test procedure and may be considered as interacting specifically to modify 1 neurotransmitter system: i.e., DA in the apomorphine-test (e.g., pimozide), 5-HT in the tryptamine-test (e.g., pizotifen) and NE in the NE-test (e.g., phenoxybenzamine). Higher doses of the same compounds may exert effects on other neurotransmitter systems as well, and these actions may be classified as nonspecific. The concept of drug specificity is not exclusive but refers to the dissociation, in terms of doses, which exists between a drug''s effect on one neurotransmitter system and its possible effects on other systems. The ATN[Apomorphine-Tryptamine-Norepinephrine]-test separates and delineates, in terms of doses, specific and nonspecific effects of drugs.