Antidepressant and anxiolytic profiles of E-10-hydroxynortriptyline on electrocorticograms of rats.
Electrocorticograms of rats were recorded after administration of increasing doses of the major metabolite of nortriptyline (NT), E-10-hydroxynortriptyline (E-10-OH-NT). The results were compared with those of NT administration. In visual as well as computerized evaluations, E-10-OH-NT demonstrated clear antidepressant properties, thus confirming previous experiments in depressed patients. There is some evidence that E-10-OH-NT also has an anxiolytic profile. The results with the parent drug NT were not so pronounced. Since E-10-OH-NT has been shown to be devoid of side effects when previously administered to humans, this substance is clearly to be considered of interest for potential development into a new antidepressant. Whether or not the anxiolytic profile is of clinical interest needs to be investigated further.
Nordin
C
C
Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Krijzer
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F
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009661:Nortriptyline