[Harman and its derivatives as potential atypical antidepressants]

A number of properties common both for harman and its derivatives and for imipramine and pyrazidol were revealed: a capability to enhance impulse release of 3H-noradrenaline and 3H-serotonin from the rat brain slices, to reduce the duration of immobilization in mice swimming test, to increase at chronic administration to rats ED50 for clonidine (depression of the locomotor activity and orientation) and 5-hydroxytryptophan ("head twitch" phenomenon) and to decrease ED50 for propranolol (depression of orientation). The potential antidepressant activity of harman and its derivatives and their place among the conventional antidepressants are discussed.