Influence of alpha stimulants and beta blockers on yohimbine toxicity.

1. Potentiation of yohimbine-induced sublethality has been largely used to predict antidepressant action. 2. Several products were tested in order to understand the mechanism of this toxicity better: an alpha-1 central stimulant (adrafinil); an alpha-2 central stimulant (clonidine); and 4 beta-blockers (propranolol, atenolol, penbutolol and metoprolol). 3. It was found that atenolol and adrafinil could not antagonize toxicity, whereas clonidine and the other 3 beta-blockers could. 4. It is suggested that a central beta-origin toxicity exists since only beta-blockers which cross the blood-brain barrier are capable of antagonizing this activity. 5. The fact that clonidine also antagonized this toxicity may be explained by the beta-antagonist action of this substance at the high doses used.