Interaction of desipramine and amitriptyline with adrenergic mechanisms in the human iris in vivo.

Mydriatic responses of the pupil were evoked by locally instilled noradrenaline and methoxamine in eight healthy volunteers. The effects of three single oral doses (25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg) of amitriptyline and desipramine were compared on the mydriatic responses. Both antidepressants potentiated the mydriasis evoked by noradrenaline; desipramine appeared to be approximately four times more potent than amitriptyline. Both antidepressants antagonised the mydriasis evoked by noradrenaline; desipramine appeared to be approximately four times more potent than amitriptyline. Both antidepressants antagonised the mydriasis evoked by methoxamine, amitriptyline being approximately twice as potent as desipramine. It is suggested that the potentiation of the response to noradrenaline may reflect the blockade of the uptake of noradrenaline into adrenergic nerve terminals, whereas the antagonism of the response to methoxamine may reflect the blockade of postsynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors by the antidepressants. It is argued that the interaction of the antidepressants with adrenergic mechanisms could explain why amitriptyline, a potent anticholinergic agent, causes no significant change in resting pupil diameter, while desipramine, a relatively weaker anticholinergic agent, produces a significant mydriasis.