Brain levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, tryptamine and 2-phenylethylamine in the rat after administration of N-cyanoethyltranylcypromine.

Brain levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tryptamine (T), 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) and monoamine oxidase activity at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min were determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats after intraperitoneal injection of the "pro-drug" N-2-cyanoethyltranylcypromine (CE-TCP, dose 0.1 mMole/kg). Analyses of 5-HT, T and PEA were performed on an electron-capture gas chromatograph with a capillary column. Activity of MAO-A and MAO-B was measured using a radiochemical method. Results indicate substantial inhibition of MAO in rat brain after intraperitoneal administration of CE-TCP, leading to elevated levels of 5-HT, T and PEA as early as 5 min after drug administration. Increases in brain levels of the trace amines T and PEA were much greater (approximately 40 and 100 times control levels, respectively) than with 5-HT (approximately 1.8 times control level) 240 min after administration of CE-TCP.