B. Poschel, F. W. Ninteman
Aug 1, 1964
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Quality indicators
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Life sciences
Abstract
Abstract Rats were trained to press a lever for moderately rewarding electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus. Following training the animals were treated with drugs which inhibit brain monoamine oxidase. Pargyline, tranylcypromine, and iproniazid produced marked excitatory effects on self-stimulation which appeared after a conspicuous delay. These effects appeared to be associated with the elevation of brain norepinephrine levels following MAO blockade. Etryptamine, on the other hand, produced a more-or-less immediate excitatory effect in accordance with its known direct amphetamine-like action. The results were presented within the context of a theory that some types of clinical depression are associated with deficient norepinephrine levels in the reward system of the brain.