Abstract
THERE is indirect evidence of a relationship between serious disorders of mood, such as mania and depression, and amines, particularly noradrenaline1,2. This is based in part on the observation that two classes of drugs which deplete the brain of noradrenaline (reserpine and alpha-methyl-DOPA), acting through different mechanisms, can cause depression in some patients. The imipramine class of drugs and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been shown in controlled studies to benefit many clinical depressions. The monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been found to block an important breakdown pathway of noradrenaline1, while the imipramine type drugs block the re.uptake of noradrenaline into the adrenergic tissues1. It has been suggested that both classes of drugs increase “functional” noradrenaline at the receptor sites, and that this effect is related to their antidepressant actions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bunney, W. E., and Davis, J. M., Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 13, 483 (1965).
Schildkraut, J. J., Amer. J. Psychiat., 122, 509 (1965).
Schou, M., Psychopharmacologia, 1, 65 (1959).
Maggs, R., Brit. J. Psychiat., 109, 56 (1963).
Hartigan, G. P., Brit. J. Psychiat., 109, 810 (1963).
Baastrup, P. C., and Schou, M., Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 16, 162 (1967).
Whittaker, V. P., Michaelson, I. A., and Kirkland, R. J. A., Biochem. J., 90, 293 (1964).
Krebs, H. A., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 4, 249 (1950).
Bogdanski, D. F., and Brodie, B. B., Life Sci., 5, 1563 (1966).
Colburn, R. W., and Maas, J. W., Nature, 208, 37 (1965).
Maas, J. W., and Colburn, R. W., Nature, 208, 41 (1965).
Iverson, L. L., and Kravitz, E. A., Mol. Pharmacol., 2, 360 (1966).
Schou, M., Pharmacol. Rev., 9, 17 (1957).
Schanberg, S. M., Schildkraut, J. J., and Kopin, I. J., Biochem. Pharmacol., 16, 393 (1967).
Sulser, F., Bickel, M. H., and Brodie, B. B., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 144, 321 (1964).
Coppen, A. J., and Shaw, D. M., Brit. Med. J., 2, 1439 (1963).
Coppen, A., Shaw, D. M., Malleson, A., and Costain, R., Brit. Med. J., 1, 71 (1966).
Shaw, D. M., Brit. Med. J., 2, 262 (1966).
Schou, M., Brit. J. Psychiat., 109, 803 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
COLBURN, R., GOODWIN, F., BUNNEY, W. et al. Effect of Lithium on the Uptake of Noradrenaline by Synaptosomes. Nature 215, 1395–1397 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2151395b0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2151395b0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
