Effect of p‐nitromethylamphetamine on biogenic amines and their amino‐acid precursors in rat brain

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Low doses of p‐nitromethylamphetamine caused small increases in the concentrations of brain noradrenaline and dopamine in the rat; a dose of 60 mg/kg however, caused a decrease in the concentrations of both amines. p‐Nitromethylamphetamine caused behavioural hyperexcitability only at doses which approximated to half the ld50 (68 mg/kg).

Low doses of p‐nitromethylamphetamine caused small increases in the concentrations of brain noradrenaline and dopamine in the rat; a dose of 60 mg/kg however, caused a decrease in the concentrations of both amines. p‐Nitromethylamphetamine caused behavioural hyperexcitability only at doses which approximated to half the ld50 (68 mg/kg).

p‐Nitromethylamphetamine potentiated the action of 4,α‐dimethyl‐m‐tyramine in depleting brain noradrenaline. This suggests that it may affect brain noradrenaline concentrations by utilizing a reserpine resistant uptake mechanism.

p‐Nitromethylamphetamine decreased the concentration of brain 5‐hydroxytryptamine.

Changes in the blood and brain concentrations of tyrosine and γ‐amino‐n‐butyric acid concentration in the brain could not be correlated with the changes in brain amines. However, a rise in the concentration of brain tryptophan appeared to be correlated with the fall in brain 5‐hydroxytryptamine.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1971.tb07208.x

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