The in vivo effects of four H1-antagonists, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, mepyramine, and promethazine, on the metabolism of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were investigated in the whole mouse brain. Diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine had no significant effect on levels of NA, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG), DA, and 5-HT, but they significantly decreased levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). In particular chlorpheniramine markedly decreased 5-HIAA levels at doses as low as 1 mg/kg, i.p. Mepyramine significantly decreased 5-HIAA levels but not those of other substances. High doses of promethazine significantly decreased NA levels but markedly increased those of MHPG, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA. The DA reduction induced by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT) was significantly inhibited by diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, and promethazine, but the alpha-MT-induced NA decrease was significantly enhanced by promethazine. The 5-HIAA accumulations induced by probenecid were significantly inhibited by chlorpheniramine and mepyramine. These results suggest: (1) Diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine inhibit the turnover of both DA and 5-HT by blocking their neuronal uptake. (2) Promethazine and mepyramine inhibit DA and 5-HT turnover, respectively, as a result of the inhibition of the uptake mechanism. (3) Promethazine increases NA turnover by enhancing NA release. The discriminative effects of these drugs on the monoamine systems may be related to some differences in their CNS actions.

To compare in vivo effects of eleven compounds of different classes of histamine H1-receptor antagonists (alcoholamines: diphenhydramine, carbinoxamine, and clemastine; ethylenediamines: mepyramine, tripelennamine, and clemizole; alkylamines: triprolidine and chlorpheniramine; piperazines: meclizine and homochlorcyclizine; phenothiazines: promethazine) on neuronal uptake of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the effects on the turnover of these monoamines were examined in the mouse brain, based on the alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine-induced depletion of DA and NA or probenecid-induced accumulation of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The DA turnover was reduced remarkably by diphenhydramine, tripelennamine, and promethazine, and also significantly by chlorpheniramine, mepyramine, clemizole, and homochlorcyclizine, at doses used in the ordinary animal experiments. The 5-HT turnover was reduced markedly by mepyramine, tripelennamine, and chlorpheniramine. In contrast, the NA turnover was increased by promethazine and homochlorcyclizine, possibly due to their antagonistic effects on alpha-adrenoceptors. These results suggest that (1) the degree of inhibition of the uptake of DA and 5-HT by histamine H1-receptor antagonists is considerably different, (2) most H1-antagonists have little influence on NA uptake and some compounds enhance NA release, and that (3) carbinoxamine, clemastine, triprolidine, and meclizine have comparatively weak influences on monoamine metabolism. These effects on brain monoamine systems may be related to some central actions of histamine H1-receptor antagonists, such as an addiction to these compounds combined with opioids.

No abstract