title: Adrenergic-cholinergic imbalances: the physostigmine-syndrome is not antagonized by the MAO-A inhibitor brofaromine.
abstract: The centrally active cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine induces a behavioral syndrome which is thought to represent a model of spontaneous depression. In the present acute trial in 6 healthy volunteers, this model depression was accompanied by clearcut cardiovascular, metabolic and neuroendocrine phenomena of stress. The extent of the changes from baseline, however, scarcely correlated between the behavioral and physiologic phenomena. The behavioral and physiological phenomena could not be antagonized by brofaromine, a putative antidepressant reversibly and selectively inhibiting monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), contrasting to the complete inhibition by the central cholinolytic scopolamine. This is further evidence that antidepressant efficacy depends on long-term adaptive changes secondary to the enhancement of aminergic neurotransmission rather than this enhancement itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Würzburg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fritze
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sofic
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pfüller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanczik
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riederer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010830:Physostigmine; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D010880:Piperidines; C038213:brofaromine; D010830:Physostigmine; D012601:Scopolamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone