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Effect of nomifensine on platelet monoamine oxidase activity in chronic schizophrenic patients

E J Filinger1

  • 1Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (UBA), Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

General Pharmacology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Nomifensine treatment increased platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and reduced affective symptoms in depressed chronic schizophrenics. However, nomifensine did not directly inhibit MAO activity in vitro.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder often accompanied by affective symptoms.
  • Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity has been implicated in mood disorders and schizophrenia.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of antidepressant treatments in schizophrenia is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of nomifensine on platelet MAO activity in depressed chronic schizophrenics.
  • To determine if nomifensine directly inhibits MAO activity in vitro.

Main Methods:

  • Patients with depressed chronic schizophrenia were treated with nomifensine.
  • Platelet MAO activity levels were measured before and during treatment.
  • In vitro experiments assessed the direct inhibitory effect of nomifensine on MAO activity.

Main Results:

  • Nomifensine treatment led to increased platelet MAO activity.
  • A decrease in the frequency of affective symptoms was observed in treated patients.
  • Nomifensine showed no direct inhibitory effect on platelet MAO activity in vitro.

Conclusions:

  • Nomifensine may indirectly modulate MAO activity or affect other pathways involved in affective symptoms in schizophrenia.
  • The therapeutic effects of nomifensine in depressed chronic schizophrenics are not mediated by direct MAO inhibition.

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