[Effect of antidepressants of different groups on the cholinergic structures of the brain]

In electroencephalographic experiments on cats and rabbits it was shown that antidepressants of different chemical classes exhibited different central anticholinergic activity. The antidepressants tested (there were 17 of them) acted differently on the EEG activation by galanthamine (an anticholinesterase drug). Pronouncingly antagonistic to the activating effect of galanthamine were doxepin, phthoracizin, aminotryptilin, imipramine. Next followed (in the regressing sequence) desipramine, lidiomil, mianserin, trazodon, viloxazin, noveril, nomifensin, adepren, caroxazon, nialamide, asaphin, pyrazidol and inkasan did not influence the synchronizing action of galanthamine. The substantial differences in the anticholinergic activity of the antidepressant show that the action upon the central cholinergic system is not an obligate component of the antidepressant effect.