The depletion and recovery of noradrenaline in the brain and some sympathetically innervated mammalian tissues after tetrabenazine

Abstract The depleting effect of tetrabenazine on the monoamine levels appears generally to be less in peripheral tissues than in the central nervous system. The noradrenaline levels in brain and some sympathetically innervated tissues such as heart, submandibular glands, and skeletal muscle were examined in the rat after administration of the drug. The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and noradrenaline were also estimated in the rabbit brain after tetrabenazine and compared with the levels in the rabbit heart. In both the brain and peripheral tissues the monoamine levels were strongly reduced 4 hr after tetrabenazine and increased thereafter, reaching normal levels after about 36 to 48 hr. The site of action of tetrabenazine is briefly discussed and compared to the site of action of reserpine.