The value of the reserpine test in psychopharmacology

Numerous tests have been proposed to search for a possible antidepressive action. Many of these tests are based on a reversal of different reserpine effects, an approach justified mainly by the use of most the classic or new antidepressants. Three effects of reserpine were examined in mice: hypothermia, ptosis and akinesia. All tests were performed with reserpine 2.5 mg/kg, and the drugs were injected 4 h after reserpine administration. In these three models, we studied the relatively specific effects of 21 drugs known for their influence on the metabolism or action of norepinephrine (noradrenaline), serotonin and dopamine. Our results suggest that hypothermia antagonism is only obtained with drugs stimulating beta-adrenergic receptors directly or indirectly, ptosis antagonism with those stimulating alpha-adrenergic or serotonergic receptors, and akinesia antagonism with those stimulating dopaminergic receptors.