PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Michel Bourin
AU  - Martine Hascoët
AU  - Marie Claude Colombel
AU  - Ronald T. Coutts
AU  - Glen B. Baker
TI  - Clonidine potentiates the effects of tranylcypromine, phenelzine and two analogues in the forced swimming test in mice
DP  - 2002 May 01
TA  - Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
PG  - 178--185
VI  - 27
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jpn.ca/content/27/3/178.short
4100  - http://jpn.ca/content/27/3/178.full
SO  - JPN2002 May 01; 27
AB  - 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.