Pharmacological evaluation of 2-(4-methylaminobutoxy)diphenylmethane hydrochloride (MCI-2016), a new psychotropic drug with antidepressant activity.

Pharmacological properties of 2-(4-methylamino-butoxy)-diphenylmethane hydrochloride (MCI-2016) were examined in comparison with those of other antidepressants. MCI-2016 significantly antagonized the hypothermia and depression-like syndrome produced by reserpine injection. Furthermore, the drug exhibited such activities as antitetrabenazine and anti-cataleptic actions, and potentiation of the behavioural excitation induced by yohimbine, methamphetamine and L-dopa. MCI-2016 showed a definite suppressive effect on muricidal activity in olfactory bulb removed rats and the long-term isolation-induced fighting in mice without causing apparent motor disturbance. Judging from the effects of the drug on in vitro response to noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT), and on p-chloramphetamine-induced hypermotility, it is suggested that MCI-2016 is a selective potentiator of NA presumably due to an inhibition of NA uptake. Anticholinergic and sedative actions of MCI-2016 were considerably weaker than those of amitriptyline and imipramine. Acute toxicity of MCI-2016 was the weakest among the drugs tested. These pharmacological profiles may suggest a potential clinical utility of MCI-2016 as a new psychotropic agent having an antidepressant activity.