EFFECTS OF MAZINDOL, A NON‐PHENYLETHYLAMINE ANOREXIGENIC AGENT, ON BIOGENIC AMINE LEVELS AND TURNOVER RATE

1 Mazindol is a new anorexigenic agent which possesses a different chemical structure from that of phenylethylamines, but shows a pharmacological profile similar to that of (+)‐amphetamine. 2 Mazindol neither altered whole brain monoamine levels (noradrenaline (NA), dopamine, 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)) nor changed NA levels in the hypothalamus or dopamine levels in the caudate nucleus. 3 Mazindol enhanced dopamine turnover rate in the caudate nucleus, as shown by the increased rate of dopamine decline after blockade of catecholamine synthesis by α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine and decreased the conversion index of [3H]‐tyrosine into brain NA. 4 Mazindol administration did not modify pargyline‐induced decline of 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid suggesting that 5‐HT turnover is not altered by this drug.