Effect of desipramine on directly or indirectly elicited catecholamine pressor responses in rats

Abstract

Abstract Desipramine enhances the pressor effect induced by noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium in pithed rats, while indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines, such as tyramine and phenethylamine were inhibited. With a similar degree of noradrenaline potentiation, desipramine was more effective than cocaine as an inhibitor of the tyramine pressor response. Desipramine, but not cocaine, was effective in blocking the hypertension induced by small doses of reserpine in animals pretreated with tranylcypromine.