Comparison of the pharmacological actions of desmethylclomipramine and clomipramine.

This research compares the effects, in mice and rats, of desmethylclomipramine (DCLOM) and clomipramine (CLOM). DCLOM antagonized the hypothermia induced in mice by reserpine or apomorphine to a much greater extent than CLOM. Reserpine ptosis in mice was depressed by DCLOM only. Similarly, only DCLOM was effective in the behavioral despair test in rats. DCLOM increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) pressor effect in pithed rats, but to a lesser extent than CLOM by several factors. Only DCLOM increased the noradrenaline (NA) pressor effect. The depletion of NA induced by 6-hydroxydopamine was depressed by DCLOM only. The 5-HT depletion induced by p-chloromethamphetamine was antagonized only by CLOM. The results obtained show that the noradrenergic mechanism is of prime importance in the action of DCLOM and of much more importance than in the action of CLOM.