DDT-induced myoclonus: serotonin and alpha noradrenergic interaction.

p,p'-DDT (600 mg/kg) produces myoclonic activity in mice which can be reduced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5HTP) (200 mg/kg), H75/12 (25 mg/kg), serotonin uptake blockers and two alpha-receptor blockers, phenoxybenzamine (5 mg/kg) and trazodone (5 mg/kg). Decreasing endogenous brain serotonin by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (400 mg/kg i.p.) blocked the antimyoclonic action of all of these drugs except L-5HTP. Seven other alpha-receptor blockers (phentolamine, tolazoline, yohimbine, azapetine, aceperone, nicergoline and prazosin) potentiated the antimyoclonic activity of a small dose of L-5HTP (50 mg/kg) in this animal model. We postulate that an alpha noradrenergic inhibitory synapse may be located in the neural circuit connecting a serotonergic neuron to the final motor response (p,p'-DDT-induced myoclonus).