Pharmacological properties of centrally administered ouabain and their modification by other drugs

1. Ouabain given by intracerebroventricular injection to mice in small doses (0.1-0.4 mug) produced a dose related depression of central nervous activity, characterized by a reduction in spontaneous locomotor activity, hypothermia, catalepsy and ptosis, lowered body posture and lack of response to external stimuli. Doses above 0.4 mug were excitatory, convulsant and lethal.2. The depressant effects could be antagonized by (+)-amphetamine, desmethylimipramine, dibutyryl cyclic 3'5'-adenosine monophosphate and caffeine.3. The MAO inhibitor nialamide produced only a small antagonism of ouabain, resulting in a greater rate of recovery from the depressant effects of ouabain.4. The depressant effects were associated with a marked elevation of whole-brain dopamine levels with little change in noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine.5. The dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, administered by intracerebroventricular injection, produced effects qualitatively similar to those seen after ouabain.6. An interference with central transmitter function is postulated as a possible mode of action of intracerebroventricularly injected ouabain.