Lack of pre-synaptic dopaminergic involvement in modafinil activity in anaesthetized mice: in vivo voltammetry studies.

Modafinil was compared to the indirect dopaminergic drugs, dexamphetamine and methylphenidate, using in vivo differential normal pulse voltammetry with carbon fibre electrodes located in the caudate nucleus to study extracellular catechol level in anaesthetized mice. Modafinil (16-256 mg kg-1) failed to modify the catechol oxidation peak height (peak 2). Dexamphetamine at low doses (2 and 4 mg kg-1) decreased, while at a higher dose (8 mg kg-1) did not modify peak 2 height.

Flerobuterol: a potential antidepressant drug related to beta-adrenergic agonists. Experimental profile in mice.

The potential antidepressant effect of flerobuterol (dl-(fluoro-2 phenyl)-1 t-butylamino-2 ethanol), a new drug related to beta-adrenoceptor agonists, was evaluated and compared with imipramine and salbutamol using classical psychopharmacological tests in mice. Like imipramine and salbutamol, flerobuterol (0.5-32 mg kg-1, ip) fully prevented apomorphine (16 mg kg-1, sc)- and partly reversed reserpine- and oxotremorine-induced hypothermia.

Awakening properties of modafinil: effect on nocturnal activity in monkeys (Macaca mulatta) after acute and repeated administration.

Single oral administration of modafinil (16-64 mg/kg) in monkeys induced an increase in nocturnal activity and in behavioural arousal without stereotyped behaviour. Modafinil-induced increase in nocturnal activity was prevented by the centrally acting alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin. After repeated oral administration of modafinil, b.

Central alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation in relation to the behaviour stimulating effect of modafinil; studies with experimental animals.

Single administration of the new drug modafinil was followed by an increase in locomotor activity in mice and in nocturnal activity in monkeys. Stereotyped behaviour in mice and rats, and potentiation of amphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour were not observed; however, at the highest dose used, a slight potentiation of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour was observed in rats. The modafinil-induced increase in locomotor activity in mice was prevented by the centrally acting alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists, prazosin and phenoxybenzamine, and by reserpine but not by the mixed dopamine D-1/D-2 antagonist, haloperidol, the dopamine D-2 antagonist, sulpiride, the peripherally acting alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol, or by the catecholamine synthesis inhibitor, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine.