[Antidepressive effects of 3 endogenous monoamines: psychopharmacologic profiles of noradrenaline, octopamine and phenethylamine].

Norepinephrine (NE), octopamine (OA) and phenethylamine (PEA) are easily destroyed by M.A.O. but we could show, even injected intraperitoneally that they are active upon tests used generally to reveal an "antidepressant" effect. This effect is especially studied by using antagonism of apomorphine, reserpine, oxotremorine-induced hypothermia. The psychopharmacological spectra of NE and OA are close to the one of salbutamol and the observed effects correspond to alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulations. The PEA spectrum is similar to the one of amphetamine and the observed effects correspond to adrenergic stimulations and to a dopaminergic stimulation. The mechanisms involved in the tests realized to show an "antidepressant" effect could reflect an activity not only through endogeneous NA but also possibly through endogeneous OA and PEA.