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Mechanism of central action of octopamine.
Octopamine (50-250 microgram ivc) activates both noradrenergic and dopaminergic system of the rat. In rats pretreated with reserpine or reserpine and FLA-63 the stimulatory action of octopamine was not inhibited, but even enhanced. Only selective destruction of dopamine containing neurons (6-hydroxydopamine, 200 microgram ivc, given 1 hr after desipramine, 25 mg/kg ip) prevents octopamine-induced hyperactivity. Octopamine depressed the noradrenaline level in the rat brain and increased utilization of the amine, but did not affect the level and utilization of dopamine.
PMID: 121158 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Patient Drug Information
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Reserpine (Serpalan® , Serpasil® )
Reserpine is used to treat high blood pressure. It works by decreasing your heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body. It also is used to treat severe agitation in pati...
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Desipramine (Norpramin® )
Desipramine is used to treat depression. Desipramine is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain that are needed for mental...