title: Phenylethylamine-induced stereotypies in the rat: a behavioral test system for assessment of MAO-B inhibitors.
abstract: Stereotyped sniffing behavior together with forepaw padding--defined as the beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) syndrome--is induced by MAO-B inhibitors in rats injected with 30 mg/kg IP PEA. The comparison of the abilities of the MAO-B inhibitors to induce the syndrome and to inhibit MAO-B in rat brain homogenates indicated that at least 75% of MAO-B activity in rat brain had to be inhibited to induce the PEA syndrome. A good correlation was found between the abilities of MAO-B inhibitors to induce the behavioral syndrome and to increase levels of PEA in rat brain. Specific MAO-A inhibitors potentiated the behavioral effect of the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl, while they did not induce the syndrome themselves or only at very high doses. Inhibitors of the reuptake of 5-HT or noradrenaline were inactive under the described experimental conditions. This behavioral test system seems to be a useful in vivo screening test in rats for detecting compounds with strong MAO-B inhibiting activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012642:Selegiline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D010627:Phenethylamines; D012642:Selegiline