Pharmacological properties of EXP 561, a potential antidepressant drug

The compound EXP 561 (1-amino-4-phenylbicyclo-[2,2,2]-octane), an inhibitor of the noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) uptake, a potential antidepressant agent, was studied in tests for evaluation of antidepressant drugs (AD). In most experiments (the apomorphine and reserpine hypothermia, the behavioural despair test, the blood pressure increases induced by NA and 5-HT) EXP 561 revealed similar activities as tricyclic AD. EXP 561 evoked stimulation of the hind limb flexor reflex in spinal rats, blocked by prazosin, metergoline and clomipramine. EXP 561 administered repeatedly in mice (twice daily for 14 days) did not evoke the adaptive changes induced by AD inhibiting the amine uptake, i.e. it did not enhance the amphetamine locomotor hyperactivity, did not potentiate the clonidine aggressiveness (at a lower dose, while at a higher one it acted less potently than when given acutely) or did not change the reserpine effect on the locomotor activity. EXP 561 showed a poor affinity to alpha 1-adrenoceptor (IC50 was 135,000 nM). The results indicate that the inability to induce adaptive changes is a feature which differentiates EXP 561 from tricyclic AD.