Rolipram, a novel antidepressant drug, reverses the hypothermia and hypokinesia of monoamine-depleted mice by an action beyond postsynaptic monoamine receptors.

The antidepressant potential of rolipram and inhibitors of phosphodiesterase (PDE) which are selective for cyclic AMP has previously been ascribed to enhancement of central noradrenergic transmission by the combination of two mechanisms of action: increase of synthesis of noradrenaline and release (presynaptic component) and concomitant potentiation of noradrenaline signals due to inhibition of phosphodiesterase (postsynaptic component). To examine the contribution of the latter component to the antidepressant action, rolipram, ICI 63 197 or Ro 20-1724 were given to mice which were depleted of monoamines in the brain by combined pretreatment with reserpine, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and p-chlorophenylalanine. Rolipram, ICI 63 197 and Ro 20-1724 dose-dependently reversed the hypothermia and hypokinesia induced by this pretreatment. Imipramine and pargyline were inactive in this respect, indicating that their antidepressant effect depends on the availability of endogenous monoamines. The antihypothermic and antihypokinetic action of rolipram was not prevented by blockade of central beta-adrenergic or dopaminergic receptors. It is concluded that an action of rolipram, beyond postsynaptic receptors, essentially contributes to its antidepressant effect. The postsynaptic adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase system is thought to be the most likely target. The unique properties of rolipram to stimulate both presynaptic and postsynaptic components of central neurotransmission should enable more efficient transduction of postsynaptic signals by circumventing presynaptic inhibitory feedback mechanisms, responsible for the delay in the therapeutic action of conventional antidepressant drugs.