Pharmacological comparison of the potential antidepressant UP 614-04 with viloxazine and imipramine; behavioral studies

Abstract

1. Several behavioral tests were used to compare the pharmacological activity of the potential antidepressant UP 614-04 with those of viloxazine and imipramine. 2. Orally-administered UP 614-04, like viloxazine, reduced locomotor activity in mice, and, like viloxazine and imipramine, it antagonized the hypothermia or ptosis induced by reserpine or tetrabenazine and the hypothermia induced by a high dose of apomorphine. 3. UP 614-04 antagonized oxotremorine-induced hypothermia, and to a lesser extent, oxotremorine-induced tremors, indicating that it possesses some CNS anticholinergic activity. 4. Both imipramine and viloxazine were more potent than UP 614-04 in potentiating yohimbine toxicity in mice. 5. Orally-administered UP 614-04 potentiated d-amphetamine-induced stereotypy to a greater extent than viloxazine, but to a lesser extent than imipramine. 6. Intraperitoneally-injected UP 614-04 was much more potent than viloxazine in increasing tryptamine convulsive potential in rats, indicating that it might exert an inhibitory action on monoamine oxidase. 7. These results indicate that UP 614-04 has a behavioral profile that is consistent with an antidepressant action, but that it differs from imipramine and viloxazine.