Psychomotor stimulant effects of the stereoisomers of chlorpheniramine. 1990

J Bergman
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, MA.

The behavioral effects of the histamine H1 antagonists d- and l-chlorpheniramine and of the H2 antagonist zolantidine were determined in squirrel monkeys responding under a fixed-interval (FI) 3-min schedule of stimulus-shock termination. Although d-chlorpheniramine is known to be much more potent than l-chlorpheniramine for antagonizing H1 receptor-mediated effects of histamine or displacing [3H]-mepyramine from histamine H1 receptors, similar doses of racemic chlorpheniramine and the d- and l-isomers (3.0-10.0 mg/kg) produced comparable increases in rates of responding. Zolantidine (1.0-17.0 mg/kg) did not alter or, at the highest dose, markedly decreased responding. These findings suggest that the psychomotor stimulant effects of chlorpheniramine involve actions other than the blockade of histamine H1 or H2 receptors. Selected H1 antagonists and cocaine are known to have comparable rate-increasing, reinforcing, and discriminative stimulus effects and, recently, the enantiomers of chlorpheniramine have been shown to displace [3H]-cocaine from binding sites in CNS with approximately equal potency. Possibly, such actions mediate behavioral effects common to H1 antagonists and cocaine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011738 Pyrilamine A histamine H1 antagonist. It has mild hypnotic properties and some local anesthetic action and is used for allergies (including skin eruptions) both parenterally and locally. It is a common ingredient of cold remedies. Mepyramine,Pyranisamine,Anthisan,Boots Bite & Sting Relief,Kriptin,Mepyramine Maleate,Pyrilamine Maleate,Maleate, Mepyramine,Maleate, Pyrilamine
D012055 Reinforcement Schedule A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent. Reinforcement Schedules,Schedule, Reinforcement,Schedules, Reinforcement
D002744 Chlorpheniramine A histamine H1 antagonist used in allergic reactions, hay fever, rhinitis, urticaria, and asthma. It has also been used in veterinary applications. One of the most widely used of the classical antihistaminics, it generally causes less drowsiness and sedation than PROMETHAZINE. Chlorphenamine,Chlorprophenpyridamine,Aller-Chlor,Antihistaminico Llorens,Chlo-Amine,Chlor-100,Chlor-Trimeton,Chlor-Tripolon,Chlorpheniramine Maleate,Chlorpheniramine Tannate,Chlorpro,Chlorspan 12,Chlortab-4,Cloro-Trimeton,Efidac 24,Kloromin,Piriton,Teldrin,Maleate, Chlorpheniramine,Tannate, Chlorpheniramine
D003042 Cocaine An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake. Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D000697 Central Nervous System Stimulants A loosely defined group of drugs that tend to increase behavioral alertness, agitation, or excitation. They work by a variety of mechanisms, but usually not by direct excitation of neurons. The many drugs that have such actions as side effects to their main therapeutic use are not included here. Analeptic,Analeptic Agent,Analeptic Drug,Analeptics,CNS Stimulant,CNS Stimulants,Central Nervous System Stimulant,Central Stimulant,Analeptic Agents,Analeptic Drugs,Central Stimulants,Agent, Analeptic,Agents, Analeptic,Drug, Analeptic,Drugs, Analeptic,Stimulant, CNS,Stimulant, Central,Stimulants, CNS,Stimulants, Central
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001667 Binding, Competitive The interaction of two or more substrates or ligands with the same binding site. The displacement of one by the other is used in quantitative and selective affinity measurements. Competitive Binding
D012453 Saimiri A genus of the family CEBIDAE consisting of four species: S. boliviensis, S. orstedii (red-backed squirrel monkey), S. sciureus (common squirrel monkey), and S. ustus. They inhabit tropical rain forests in Central and South America. S. sciureus is used extensively in research studies. Monkey, Squirrel,Squirrel Monkey,Monkeys, Squirrel,Saimirus,Squirrel Monkeys

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