[Characteristics of the presynaptic action of harman and its derivatives compared to benzodiazepine tranquilizers].

In experiments on superfused cerebral hemispheric cortex slices of rats preincubated with 3H-gamma aminobutyric acid (3H-GABA), 3H-serotonin (3H-ST) or 3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA) it was shown that benzodiazepine tranquillizers (chlordiazepoxide and diazepam at the concentration of 3 X 10(-5) M) fail to change basal and slice electrostimulation-induced release of 3H-GABA, depress presynaptic release of 3H-NA and significantly enhance impulse release of 3H-ST. In contrast to benzodiazepine tranquillizers, harmane and its derivatives administered at the same concentration enhance slice electrostimulation-induced release of 3H-GABA, 3H-ST and 3H-NA.