Effects of nomifensine and desipramine on the sequelae of intracerebrally-injected 6-OHDA and 5,6-DHT.

Pretreatment with either nomifensine or desipramine (15 mg/kg) attenuated the depletion of forebrain noradrenaline induced by unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the medial forebrain bundle. Neither pretreatment influenced the depletions of striatal dopamine induced by medial forebrain bundle lesions with 6-hydroxydopamine or 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine, or contralateral rotational responses to apomorphine in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals. Pretreatment with nomifensine attenuated the depletion of striatal dopamine induced by intrastriatal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine, consistent with inhibition of dopamine uptake in vivo. Nomifensine may differently influence distinct axonal and terminal uptake mechanisms for dopamine.