Effect of cholinergic drugs on serotonin metabolism and emotional reactions in rats
Zharkovskiĭ, A.M.; Allikmets, L.K.
Farmakologiia i Toksikologiia 39(3): 261-264
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-8318 PMID: 1036094 Document Number: 97715
The effects of physostigmine and m-cholinolytics on emotional reactivity, aggressiveness, exploratory behavior, along with simultaneous influence on the endogenous serotonin metabolism, enhanced by 1-tryptophan serotonin metabolism in the brain, were studied. Upon blocking the peripheral effects with methylatropine-physostigmine exerted a tranquillizing action on emotional reactions without producing any significant changes in the serotonin metabolism. Physostigmine acted as an antagonist to the traquillizing effect of 1-tryptophan, facilitating the catabolism of serotonin. M-cholinolytics--atropine and benactyzine exercised a tranquillizing action on emotional reactions, increasing the serotonin level in the forebrain and diencephalon.