Effect of butriptyline on the brain uptake mechanisms for noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine

Abstract

Butriptyline, a tricyclic compound (40 mg kg−1, i.p.), in contrast to the tricyclic desipramine (20 mg kg−1, i.p.), did not alter the accumulation or metabolism in areas of the rat brain of intraventricularly-injected [3H]noradrenaline. It did not appreciably inhibit the displacement of 5-HT by α-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl phenethylamine in comparison with the tricyclic chlorimipramine. Butriptyline potentiated central 5-HTP effects only slightly whereas chlorimipramine displayed a strong potentiation. It is concluded that butriptyline differs significantly from desipramine, as no inhibitory effect on brain noradrenaline uptake was found, and from chlorimipramine, as only a weak inhibitory activity on brain 5-HT uptake was observed.