Abstract |
Harmine, a hallucinogen with potent monoamine oxidase inhibitory properties, induced abnormal behavior, including tremor, scratching, head twitch and cage biting, in the mouse. A dose-dependent tremor was produced by all routes of administration of harmine. Although oxotremorine tremor was markedly suppressed by atropine, harmine tremor was unaffected by cholinergic drugs, remarkably inhibited by dopaminergic drugs, antidepressants and diazepam, mildly diminished by p-chlorophenylalanine, markedly augmented by 5-hydroxytryptophan and mildly increased by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. These findings suggest that a catecholaminergic (particularly dopaminergic) and serotonergic system imbalance plays an important role in the manifestation of harmine tremor. In view of these characteristics, harmine tremor may be useful as an effective experimental model for the evaluation of antiparkinsonism drugs, along with oxotremorine tremor because of the different mechanism of occurrence. In addition, harmine tremor appears to be useful in characterizing the properties of antidepressant drugs.
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Authors | K Kawanishi, Y Hashimoto, M Fujiwara, Y Kataoka, S Ueki |
Journal | Journal of pharmacobio-dynamics
(J Pharmacobiodyn)
Vol. 4
Issue 7
Pg. 520-7
(Jul 1981)
ISSN: 0386-846X [Print] Japan |
PMID | 6975366
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Alkaloids
- Antidepressive Agents
- Harmine
- Oxotremorine
- 5-Hydroxytryptophan
- Diazepam
- Dopamine
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Topics |
- 5-Hydroxytryptophan
(pharmacology)
- Alkaloids
(adverse effects)
- Animals
- Antidepressive Agents
(pharmacology)
- Behavior, Animal
(drug effects)
- Diazepam
(pharmacology)
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dopamine
(pharmacology)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Harmine
(adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
- Male
- Mice
- Oxotremorine
(pharmacology)
- Tremor
(chemically induced)
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