title: The effects of phenylpropanolamine and other sympathomimetics on food consumption and motor activity in mice.
abstract: The effects of phenylpropanolamine on motor activity and on food intake were compared with those of S-amphetamine, ephedrine, 2-aminoindane and fenfluramine in groups of mice. Motor activity was additionally measured in mice pretreated with levodopa and benserazide, and food intake in mice pretreated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Amphetamine (2.5 mg kg-1) increased motor activity, phenylpropanolamine (10-40 mg kg-1) and 2-aminoindane (2.5-10 mg kg-1) decreased activity whilst ephedrine (2.5-40 mg kg-1) had a biphasic effect. Fenfluramine (10-40 mg kg-1) had negligible effect on activity. In mice pretreated with levodopa and benserazide both phenylpropanolamine and 2-aminoindane caused a massive increase in motor activity whilst fenfluramine's action was not affected in the same way. Whilst the anorectic action of fenfluramine was considerably potentiated in mice pretreated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, that of amphetamine, ephedrine, 2-aminoindane and phenylpropanolamine was either unaffected or initially antagonized. It is concluded that the mechanisms of motor and anorectic actions of phenylpropanolamine are similar to those of amphetamine.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine
chemical_list: D008781:Methyltyrosines; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D007980:Levodopa; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D001545:Benserazide