Abstract
THERE are now several reports of the beneficial effect of large doses of (±)-propranolol in the treatment of various psychoses, particularly schizophrenia1–3. These reports prompted us to investigate whether propranolol had any effect on the behavioural syndrome produced in rats by increasing the functional activity of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or dopamine (DA) in the central nervous system. Our results indicate that large doses of (−)-propranolol but not (+)-propranolol inhibit the behavioural responses resulting from increased functional activity of central 5-HT but not DA.
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
Atsmon, A., Blum, I., Wijsenbeek, H., Maoz, B., Steiner, M., and Ziegelman, G., Psychiat. Neurol. Neurochir., 74, 251–258 (1971).
Atsmon, A., Blum, I., Steiner, M., and Wijsenbeek, H., Psychopharmacologia, 27, 249–254 (1972).
Yorkston, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Malik, M. K. U., Morrison, R. C., and Havard, C. W. H., Br. med. J., 4, 633–635 (1974).
Grahame-Smith, D. G., J. Neurochem., 18, 1053–1066 (1971).
Green, A. R., and Grahame-Smith, D. G., Nature, 260, 487–491 (1976).
Grahame-Smith, D. G., Br. J. Pharmac., 43, 856–864 (1971).
Bradley, P. B., and Briggs, I., Br. J. Pharmac., 50, 345–354 (1974).
Green, A. R., Hughes, J. P., and Tordoff, A. F. C., Neuropharmacology, 14, 601–606 (1974).
Shand, D. G., Rango, R. E., and Evans, G. H., Pharmacology, 8, 344–352 (1972).
Green, A. R., and Kelly, P. H., Br. J. Pharmac., 57, 141–147 (1976).
Ungerstedt, U., Acta physiol. scand., 83, Suppl. 367, 49–68 (1971).
Kelly, P. H., Brain Res., 100, 507–522 (1975).
Clement-Cormier, Y. L., Kebabian, J. W., Petzold, G. L., and Greengard, P., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 1113–1117 (1974).
Scales, B., & Cosgrove, N. B., J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 175, 338–347 (1970).
Bainbridge, J. G., and Greenwood, D. T., Neuropharmacology, 10, 453–458 (1971)
Weinstock, M., and Speiser, Z., Psychopharmacologia, 30, 241–250 (1973)
Weinstock, M., and Schechter, Y., Eur. J. Pharmac., 32, 293–301 (1975)
Miller, R. J., Horn, A. S., and Iversen, L. L., Molec. Pharmac., 10, 759–766 (1974).
Iversen, L. L., Science, 188, 1084–1089 (1975).
Heal, D. J., Green, A. R., Boullin, D. J., and Grahame-Smith, D. G., Psycho-pharmacologia (in the press).
Green, A. R., and Grahame-Smith, D. G., Neuropharmacology, 13, 949–959 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GREEN, A., GRAHAME-SMITH, D. (−)-Propranolol inhibits the behavioural responses of rats to increased 5-hydroxytryptamine in the central nervous system. Nature 262, 594–596 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262594a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/262594a0
This article is cited by
-
Effects of salbutamol upon performance on an operant screen for antidepressants
Psychopharmacology (1993)
-
Effects of 5-HT and 8-OH-DPAT on forebrain monoamine synthesis after local application into the median and dorsal raphe nuclei of the rat
Journal of Neural Transmission (1990)
-
Antagonism by pindolol, but not betaxolol, of 8-OH-DPAT-induced facilitation of male rat sexual behavior
Journal of Neural Transmission (1989)
-
Psychotropic effects of adrenergic ?-blockers on agonistic behavior between resident and intruder mice
Psychopharmacology (1987)
-
The influence of central noradrenergic function on 5-HT2-mediated head-twitch responses in mice: Possible implications for the actions of antidepressant drugs
Psychopharmacology (1986)
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.