[Effectiveness of combined use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors and psychotherapy in the treatment of chronic alcoholism]. / Izuchenie éffektivnosti sochetannogo primeneniia ingibitorov monoaminoksidazy i psikhoterapii pri lechenii khronicheskogo alkogolizma.

The purpose of the study was to examine the efficacy of nuredal to correct cognitive disorders in patients with alcoholism. The drug treatment was combined with psychotherapy. The study was carried out in the main and control groups by the double blind method. The patients' status was assessed by means of the clinical observation as well as with the aid of a number of psychodiagnostic methods. The data obtained point to positive shifts in the mental status of patients treated with nuredal combined with psychotherapy.

Chronic administration of desipramine or nialamide decreases wet-dog shakes in rats produced by the TRH-analog MK-771.

The effect of chronic administration of the tricyclic antidepressant, desipramine, or the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), nialamide, on the ability of the TRH analog, MK-771, to induce wet-dog shakes in rats was examined. MK-771 at a dose of 3 mg/kg produced significantly fewer wet-dog shakes in those animals treated repeatedly with either nialamide or DMI in comparison to those animals treated chronically with saline. Acute administration of these antidepressant compounds did not alter the ability of MK-771 to produce wet-dog shakes in rats. The results of these experiments indicate that TRH responsiveness in the CNS is reduced by chronic but not acute antidepressant drug treatment, and suggest that TRH may be involved in antidepressant drug action.

Bromocriptine enhances the behavioural effects of apomorphine and dopamine after systemic or intracerebral injection in rats.

The ergot alkaloid bromocriptine, given intraperitoneally produced dose-dependent, long-lasting stereotyped behaviour in rats which was partly antagonised by the injection of trifluoperazine into the caudate nucleus. The stereotyped behaviour produced by apomorphine (s.c.) in both naïve and catecholamine-depleted rats was significantly enhanced by prior treatment with bromocriptine (i.p.). The bilateral application of bromocriptine (2.5-40 micrograms/side in either 0.5% tartaric acid or 50% propylene glycol aqueous vehicles) to the nucleus accumbens (NAC) of rats had no effect on locomotion over a 12 hr period after injection. In contrast, another ergot alkaloid, ergometrine, dissolved in the propylene glycol vehicle, and dopamine (DA) dissolved in either of the vehicles or in saline, produced marked stimulation of locomotion. As well as being inactive after direct application to the nucleus accumbens, bromocriptine (10-160 micrograms/side) did not induce stereotyped behaviour after bilateral injection into the caudate nucleus. However, the local application of bromocriptine (10 micrograms/side) to the nucleus accumbens, while itself inactive, significantly enhanced the locomotor stimulant effect of DA (5 micrograms/side) applied to the same nucleus. The data suggest that bromocriptine is able to enhance the effects of agonists such as DA and apomorphine at DA receptors, even under conditions where bromocriptine itself is inactive.

Evidence for direct reciprocal interactions between the central rhythm generators for spinal "respiratory" and locomotor activities in the rabbit.

Rhythm generators for locomotion and respiration have been previously identified in the high spinal rabbit treated with nialamide and DOPA. In curarized preparations, with no sensory feedback, simultaneous recordings of motor commands from the nerves to the diaphragm and to several hindlimb nerves have demonstrated that central (intraspinal) interactions exist between these respiratory and locomotor activities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the nature of these interactions. Two main possibilities existed: "direct" interactions taking place between the rhythm generators; the activity of one of the rhythm generators modifying the other generator's activity at its "output" (at the interneuronal or motoneuronal level). The present analysis of the timing (and resetting) of activities in the phrenic, hindlimb extensor (gastrocnemius medialis) and flexor (tibialis anterior) nerves suggests a strong direct interaction between the two sets of rhythm generators. Each new locomotor cycle thus only begins at the termination of a "long-lasting phrenic burst" and a respiratory burst can only occur at certain parts of a locomotor cycle.

Fine structure of monoamine-containing basal cells in the taste buds on the barbels of three species of teleosts.

The taste buds on the barbels in three species of teleosts (Cyprinus carpio, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Parasilurus asotus) were studied by means of fluorescence- and electron microscopy. Intensely yellow-fluorescent cells, which are disk-shaped and located exclusively in a basal position, are observed in the barbel-buds of all fishes examined. The basal cells contain a large number of small clear vesicles approximately 40-60 nm in diameter, which show a tendency to aggregate in the cytoplasm facing the junction of the nerve terminals; chemically transmitting synapses are seen in the latter region. It is suggested from the present observations that the basal cells in the barbel-bud may originate from Schwann cells and have a dual function both as mechanoreceptors and paracrine elements. Since the administration of 5,6-DHT results in an appearance of small dense vesicles among the small clear vesicles, the possibility exists that the basal cell may be capable of taking up monoamines and storing them in the small clear vesicles.

The effect of intrahippocampal injections of serotonin on bioelectrical activity of Gyrus cinguli and amygdaloid nucleus in the rabbit.

The effect of injection of serotonin (5-HT), dissolved in 2 mul of bidistilled water, into hippocampus was studied in rabbits with chronically implanted electrodes and cannulas. Bioelectric activity of gyrus cinguli, amygdaloid nucleus, and dorsal hippocampus was recorded. 5-HT (10--20 mug) inhibited the electrical activity of the structures investigated, and this inhibition was accompanied by a suppression of locomotor activity or sleep.

Effect of nialamide and reserpine on brain free amino acids of rat dependent on and withdrawn from morphine.

The brain free amino acid levels were estimated in rats dependent on and withdrawn from morphine. The effects of nialamide and reserpine on the levels of brain free amino acids were investigated during the development of physical dependence on morphine and after the abrupt withdrawal of morphine. The relationships between brain free amino acid levels, and physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome, the relationships between the degree of the manifestations in abstinence under the effects of nialamide and reserpine, and the changes in brain amino acid levels are discussed.

The effects of neuroleptics and nialamide on defensive conditoned reflex in rats.

Experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats after development of defensive conditioned relex during 6 weeks of training. In one series of experiments chlorpromazine, haloperidol, pimozide or fluspirilene were used in doses of 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally. In another series of experiments nialamide was given intraperitoneally in a dose of 140 mg/kg 16--18 hours before administration of one of these neuroleptics. A delay in the time of appearance of the defensive conditioned refex was observed after administration of neuroleptics in all animals. In some rats neuroleptics caused complete disappearance of the conditioned refex as well as the defensive unconditioned refex. Previous inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity obtained with nialamide increased evidently the inhibitory effect of the studied neuroleptics on the appearance of defensive conditioned reflex.