Behavioral and Brain Catecholamine Depleting Actions of U-14,624,an Inhibitor of Dopamine β-Hydroxylase 1

Abstract

Summary

Intraperitoneal administration of U-14,624 to mice caused a dose-dependent increase in the brain content of dopamine and a decrease in the brain content of norepinephrine; the latter effect was temporally related to the depression of spontaneous locomotor activity. When administered by the oral route, U-14,624 depleted brain norepinephrine but was somewhat less effective in depressing motor activity and when added to the diet for 24 hr, it effectively lowered the brain norepinephrine content without altering motor activity. Thus, selective depletion of brain norepinephrine does not in itself decrease spontaneous locomotor activity.

U-14,624 was kindly supplied by Dr. G. A. Johnson, The Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan.