The antinociceptive effect of moclobemide in mice is mediated by noradrenergic pathways

Shaul Schreiber, Valery Getslev, Abraham Weizman*, Chaim G. Pick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Moclobemide is an antidepressant which affects the monoaminergic neurotransmitter system through a reversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO), preferentially type A. We examined the antinociceptive effects of moclobemide alone and in conjunction with specific opioid, adrenergic and serotonergic antagonists, using the mouse-tail flick test. Intraperitoneal moclobemide produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect with an ED50 of 69.1 mg/kg. Tests with selective antagonists yielded positive results only for yohimbine (P < 0.001), implying a noradrenergic mechanism of action in the moclobemide antinociceptive effect. This was confirmed by the coadministration of moclobemide with inactive doses of prototype agonists of the opioid, adrenergic and serotonergic systems. Only clonidine, an α2 agonist, significantly shifted (8-fold) the dose response curve of moclobemide. We conclude that there is a selective involvement of the α2 adrenergic pathways in the moclobemide-induced antinociceptive effect :and a lesser involvement (if any) of the opioid, serotonergic and α1 adrenergic mechanisms. More research is needed to establish a possible role for moclobemide in pain management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-186
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume253
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Sep 1998

Funding

FundersFunder number
Hoffman La Roche Company

    Keywords

    • Antinociception
    • Moclobemide
    • Monoamine oxidase A
    • Noradrenaline
    • Opioid receptor subtypes
    • Serotonin

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