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Effect of dihydroergosine (DHESN) on the serotoninergic system and behaviour: Is DHESN a new antidepressive agent?

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Abstract

Acute (50.0 mg/kg) and repeated (0.1–10.0 mg/kg) administration of dihydroergosine (DHESN) to rats over 5 days lowered the concentration of 5-HIAA in the brain. DHESN given acutely increased the brain 5-HT in p-CPA-treated animals and diminished the probenecid-induced increase in brain 5-HIAA. In pargyline-treated rats DHESN enhanced the 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio. DHESN administered to rats repeatedly over 5 days decreased the level of 5-HT in blood platelets, and in vitro at concentrations of 10-4 M and 10-3 M inhibited the uptake of [14C]-5-HT in platelets. DHESN (10.0–100.0 mg/kg) potentiated the 5-HT syndrome produced in rats by pargyline and 5-HTP. This potentiation was blocked with cyproheptadine but not with haloperidol. DHESN (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) lowered the locomotor activity of rats and 10.0 mg/kg DHESN also reduced the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim in a restricted space. The results indicate that DHESN, like antidepressants, decreases the turnover of serotonin in the brain and potentiates the 5-HT-mediated behaviour. This might suggest that the drug should be further investigated for its potential antidepressive properties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Rudjer Bošković Institute, 41000, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

    Danka Peričié, Hari Manev, Sonja Levanat & Branimi Jernej

  2. “LEK”-Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, 61000, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia

    Dunja Vujić & Nebojša Djordjević

Authors
  1. Danka Peričié
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  2. Hari Manev
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  3. Sonja Levanat
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  4. Branimi Jernej
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  5. Dunja Vujić
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  6. Nebojša Djordjević
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Peričié, D., Manev, H., Levanat, S. et al. Effect of dihydroergosine (DHESN) on the serotoninergic system and behaviour: Is DHESN a new antidepressive agent?. Psychopharmacology 90, 112–118 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172881

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172881

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