Effects of amantadine on circulating neurotransmitters in healthy subjects.
Considering that glutamatergic axons innervate the C1(Ad) medullary nuclei, which are responsible for the excitation of the peripheral adrenal glands, we decided to investigate catecholamines (noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine) plus indolamines (plasma serotonin and platelet serotonin) at the blood level, before and after a small oral dose of amantadine, a selective NMDA antagonist. We found that the drug provoked a selective enhancement of noradrenaline plus a minimization of adrenaline, dopamine, plasma serotonin and platelet serotonin circulating levels. Significant enhancement of diastolic blood pressure plus reduction of systolic blood pressure and heart rate paralleled the circulating parameter changes. The above findings allow us to postulate that the drug was able to enhance the peripheral neural sympathetic activity. Minimization of both adrenal sympathetic and parasympathetic activities was also registered after the amantadine challenge. The above findings supported the postulation that this drug should be a powerful therapeutic tool for treating diseases affected by adrenal sympathetic hyperactivity.
Instituto de Medicina Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. flechin@telcel.net.ve
Fuad
F
Lechin
Bertha
B
van der Dijs
Betty
B
Pardey-Maldonado
Jairo E
JE
Rivera
Scarlet
S
Baez
Marcel E
ME
Lechin
D000328:Adult; D000547:Amantadine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010949:Plasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D000547:Amantadine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine