Role of serotonin in the blockade of muricidal behavior by tricyclic antidepressants.

Dose-response curves for the ability of three tricyclic antidepressants, imipramine, desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline to inhibit muricidal behavior were measured after treatment with a tryptophan-free diet and after administration of p-chloroamphetamine. Both treatments, which have been reported to specifically reduce central levels of serotonin, decreased the ability of the drugs to inhibit muricide. The results suggest that all three antidepressants block muricide in part through their effects on serotonin.