Interaction of amitriptyline and low doses of physostigmine studied by method of food motor reflexes in cats
Navrátil, J.; Medek, A.; Hrbek, J.; Komenda, S.; Macáková, J.
Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultatis Medicae 80: 243-248
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-2514 PMID: 1053403 Document Number: 97641
The effect of physostigmine (Physostigminium salicylicum) applied in the doses of 0.1, 0.06 and 0.03 mg/kg s.c. and its interaction with amitriptyline (4 mg/kg s.c.) upon the recall of fixed conditioned alimentary motor reflexes in cats was followed. The experiments with physostigmine were carried out 15 and 30 min after application. Physostigmine doses of 0.1 and 0.06 mg/kg s.c. were found to impair the recall of correct motor reactions, to prolong the latencies of correct reactions and to raise the number of incorrect reactions quite significantly. The amitriptyline dose of 4 mg/kg s.c. increased the number of incorrect motor responses significantly both during acute and chronic administration before. For the interaction with amitriptyline physostigmine was applied in the descending doses of 0.1, 0.05 and 0.025 mg/kg s.c. and amitriptyline administered at the same time. The experiments were carried out 20 min after application of both drugs. The low physostigmine dose (0.025 mg/kg s.c.) completely eliminated the impairing influence of amitriptyline upon performance. This finding can be important in human medicine for the elimination of the undesired anticholinergic effect of thymoleptic drugs.