Metabolic Effects of Pargyline in the Dog ∗

Abstract

Summary

Pargyline (50 mg/kg) was administered to dogs with and without reserpine pretreatment in order to determine to what extent the sympathetic action observed at the onset of MAO inhibition is reflected in metabolic parameters. In normal dogs, both blood pressure and heart rate increased gradually during and after pargyline infusion, Vo₂ and plasma FFA and glycerol increased significantly after pargyline infusion and remained elevated throughout the experiment. None of these changes were observed in reserpine-pretreated dogs after pargyline administration. The importance of this sympathetic response, mainly reflected in elevation of Vo₂, glycerol, and FFA, in the therapeutic use of MAOI remains to be assessed.