Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions
Published on: April 21, 2016
The anti-conflict effect of cyproheptadine is not mediated by its 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonistic property
1Dep. of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Cyproheptadine, a 5HT2 receptor antagonist with prominent antimuscarinic and anti-histaminic properties, was shown to have an anti-conflict effect in rats using a modified Geller-Seifter test and also enhanced extinction of conflict behaviour. The selective 5HT2 receptor antagonist ritanserin, however, had neither an anti-conflict effect nor an effect on extinction of conflict behaviour. The muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine, on the other hand, was active in both paradigms. The effect of cyproheptadine on extinction of conflict behaviour was decreased by co-administration of physostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, but not affected by the concomitant administration of the muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine. The results suggest that the anti-conflict effect of cyproheptadine has to be ascribed to its anti-muscarinic activity and is not due to its 5HT2 antagonism.
Related Concept Videos
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Several...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

