Potentiation by desipramine of neuronal responses to mescaline.

The effect of desipramine on responses of single cortical neurones to mescaline was studied by the microelectrophoretic technique. Both potentiation and antagonism of responses to mescaline by desipramine were observed. The antagonism may be related to the alpha-adrenolytic action of desipramine.

Effects of iprindole on responses of single cortical and caudate neurones to monoamines and acetylcholine.

1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used to study the effects of iprindole on single neurones in the cerebral cortex and caudate nucleus of the rat. 2 Iprindole, when applied for a brief period, did not affect the firing rate of the vast majority of neurones tested. 3 Both potentiation and antagonism of neuronal responses to noradrenaline, dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine could be observed after a brief application of iprindole.

Effects of desipramine on neuronal responses to dopamine, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and acetylcholine in the caudate nucleus of the rat.

1 The sensitivity of single neurones to microelectrophoretically applied dopamine, noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and acetylcholing (ACh) was investigated in the caudate nucleus of the rat, anaesthetized with halothane. Both excitatory and depressant responses could be observed to each of the agonists. There was a high correlation between the direction of responses to dopamine and noradrenaline, whereas there was no significant correlation between the direction of responses to dopamine and ACh.

The effect of tricyclic antidepressants on cholinergic responses of single cortical neurones.

1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used in order to study the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on responses of single cortical neurones to acetylcholine. 2 Both potentiation and antagonism of excitatory responses to acetylcholine could be observed after a brief application of imipramine or desipramine. A higher dose of the antidepressant was required to evoke antagonism than to evoke potentiation.

Effects of imipramine and desipramine on responses of single cortical neurones to noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used in order to study the effects of imipramine and desipramine on single neurones in the somatosensory cortex of the cat, anaesthetized with halothane.2 Imipramine and desipramine, when applied for a brief period, did not affect the firing rate of the vast majority of the neurones tested.3 Both potentiation and antagonism of excitatory responses to noradrenaline could be observed after a brief application of either of the antidepressants.

Kinetics of the release of noradrenaline from micropipettes: interaction between ejecting and retaining currents.

1. The role of ejecting and retaining currents in determining the kinetics of the release of [(14)C]-noradrenaline (NA) from micropipettes of the type used in microelectrophoresis experiments has been investigated by the liquid scintillation counting technique.2.