Article date: May 1973
By: S. N. C. GONG, K. J. ROGERS in Volume 48, Issue 1, pages 12-18
The intravenous infusion of pethidine or imipramine, in doses of 5 mg/kg, caused fatal hyperpyrexia in rabbits premedicated with pargyline.
The drug interaction was not antagonized when either reserpine or α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine were administered with pargyline. Neither reserpine nor α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine prevented the rise in brain stem 5‐hydroxytryptamine content following monoamine oxidase inhibition, although the increase in catecholamines normally produced by pargyline was prevented.
The development of fatal hyperthermia was completely prevented when rabbits were treated with p‐chlorophenylalanine prior to pargyline premedication. In these animals, the concentration of brain stem catecholamines, but not 5‐hydroxytryptamine, was increased.
The results indicate that the hyperthermia evoked by pethidine or imipramine in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors can take place only in the presence of raised concentrations of 5‐hydroxytryptamine in the brain stem.
The intravenous infusion of pethidine or imipramine, in doses of 5 mg/kg, caused fatal hyperpyrexia in rabbits premedicated with pargyline.
The drug interaction was not antagonized when either reserpine or α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine were administered with pargyline. Neither reserpine nor α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine prevented the rise in brain stem 5‐hydroxytryptamine content following monoamine oxidase inhibition, although the increase in catecholamines normally produced by pargyline was prevented.
The development of fatal hyperthermia was completely prevented when rabbits were treated with p‐chlorophenylalanine prior to pargyline premedication. In these animals, the concentration of brain stem catecholamines, but not 5‐hydroxytryptamine, was increased.
The results indicate that the hyperthermia evoked by pethidine or imipramine in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors can take place only in the presence of raised concentrations of 5‐hydroxytryptamine in the brain stem.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08217.x
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