TY - JOUR T1 - Clonidine potentiates the effects of tranylcypromine, phenelzine and two analogues in the forced swimming test in mice JF - Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience JO - JPN SP - 178 LP - 185 VL - 27 IS - 3 AU - Michel Bourin AU - Martine Hascoët AU - Marie Claude Colombel AU - Ronald T. Coutts AU - Glen B. Baker Y1 - 2002/05/01 UR - http://jpn.ca/content/27/3/178.abstract N2 - Objective: To compare tranylcypromine (TCP) and phenelzine (PLZ), two well-established inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO), and 2 of their analogues, 4-fluorotranylcypromine (FTCP) and N2-acetylphenelzine (AcPLZ) respectively, with regard to effects in the forced swimming test, a behavioural test used to screen for potential antidepressant drugs.Methods: Mice were dropped individually into glass cylinders containing water. The duration of their immobility was scored during the last 4 minutes of the test.Results: Except for TCP at high doses, none of the drugs demonstrated activity when administered alone. All 4 drugs were active when given in combination with clonidine, an effect thought to be the result of mixed action at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors and the noradrenergic system. 5-HT1B receptors do not seem to be implicated, as lithium did not potentiate the effect of any of the drugs. Quinine activation of AcPLZ suggests that this analogue acts on 5-HT3 receptors.Conclusions: FTCP and AcPLZ demonstrated anti-immobility activity in the forced swimming test when used in association clonidine. These findings confirm previous neurochemical findings suggesting that these drugs have antidepressant properties. ER -