CGP 4718 A, a new potential antidepressant with a dual mode of action.

CGP 4718 A (4-[5-chloro-benzofuranyl-2-]-1-methylpiperidine HCl) was found to inhibit MAO A preferentially in vitro in a competitive manner. Assessment of its in vivo effects by an ex vivo approach showed it to be a relatively weak, reversible inhibitor of MAO A. There were also effects on MAO B but they were inferior by a factor of about 10.

Phenylethylamine-induced stereotypies in the rat: a behavioral test system for assessment of MAO-B inhibitors.

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.

The monoamine oxidase inhibiting properties of CGP 11305 A.

CGP 11305 A (4-(5-methoxy-7-bromo-benzofuranyl)2-piperidine-HCl) inhibited serotonin (5-HT) deamination in brains and livers of pretreated rats. The ED50S were 1 and 0.7 mg/kg p.