Behavioural pharmacology of imidazole, a potential antidepressant agent.

Imidazole (IMID) inhibited (+/-) N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) and BHT-920 induced penile erections (PE) and stretching and yawning (SY) in rats as well as apomorphine (APO) induced hypothermia in mice, enhanced shock-elicited aggressiveness in rats and antagonized sleep induced by clonidine in chicks. IMID moreover displayed activity in behavioural tests used in specific screening for antidepressants, potentiating yohimbine toxicity in mice and antagonizing immobility time in the despair test, with a potency in some cases equal to imipramine. IMID per se, depressed motor activity in both mice and rats. The possible mechanism of action and receptors involved are briefly discussed as well as IMID's profile as an antidepressant drug.