Amantadin e tremor, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated response?

Amantadine-induced tremor has been investigated using mice. Experiments with, mebanazine, reserpine, diethyldithiocarbamate, and p-chlorophenylalanine suggest that the tremorgenic action of amantadine is influenced by a balance between three putative central nervous system (CNS) transmitters: noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Drugs which reduce the concentration of the catecholamines in brain increase amantadine induced tremor. p-Chlorophenylalanine, which specifically depletes brain 5-HT, antagonises amantadine-induced tremor. An ED50 (tremor) dose of amantadine decreases the concentration of 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat brain, particularly when this elevated due to pretreatment with 5-hydroxytryptophan. Neither inhibition of monoamine oxidase nor reduction of 5-HT-reuptake appear to be responsible for this decrease. Experiments on rat fundus suggest that amantadine increased the sensitivity of receptors to 5-HT. A similar mechanism of action in the CNS could explain both the tremor and the decrease in brain 5-HIAA. The possible relevance of these findings is discussed with respect to the known anti-Parkinson action of amantadine.