Effect of nomifensine on acetylcholine and choline in the rat striatum and brainstem.

Nomifensine, at a dose of 40 mg/kg, slightly but significantly increased rat striatal acetylcholine 60 min after i.p. administration without affecting choline levels or choline O-acetyltransferase and cholinesterase activities. This drug had no effect on brainstem acetylcholine. In contrast, d-amphetamine and desipramine both produced a small but significant increase in brainstem acetylcholine. It is suggested that nomifensine increased striatal acetylcholine indirectly through blockade of dopamine uptake.