Abstract
Controlled clinical trials have established the antidepressant activity of the isoquinoline derivatives, diclofensine (Ro 8–4650)2 (De Paula and Omer, 1980; Cherpillod and Omer, 1981; Heinze and Omer, 1981; Omer, 1982) and nomifensine3 (Acébal et al., 1976; Goldstein et al., 1982). However, in spite of their similar chemical structure, these two drugs affect the monoaminergic systems in the brain by different mechanisms. Results from experimental animal studies show that nomifensine does not only inhibit the neuronal uptake of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) but, similar to amphetamine, also has marked monoamine releasing properties. In contrast, diclofensine appears to be the first antidepressant to inhibit, in vitro and in vivo, the neuronal uptake of all three neurotransmitters, DA, NE and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to a similar extent. Diclofensine, which seems to be the most effective DA uptake inhibitor known so far, is essentially devoid of monoamine-releasing properties (Keller et al., 1982).
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Burkard, W.P., Keller, H.H., Da Prada, M., Haefely, W. (1983). Neurochemical effects of the atypical antidepressant diclofensine in the rat. In: Usdin, E., Goldstein, M., Friedhoff, A., Georgotas, A. (eds) Frontiers in Neuropsychiatric Research. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06689-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06689-6_8
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