The effect of budipine on the central serotoninergic system.

Budipine, a new potential antiparkinsonian drug, did not affect or--in higher doses--inhibited the flexor reflex in spinal rats, having no influence on LSD- or fenfluramine-induced flexor-reflex stimulation. It did not affect the body temperature either of the rat kept at a high ambient temperature or of the rabbit in a normothermic surroundings. It weakened fenfluramine hyperthermia in heat-adapted rats, but not in rabbits. Only in high doses budipine weakened tryptamine-induced clonic convulsions of rat forepaws. Budipine partially prevented fenfluramine-induced depletion of whole brain 5-hydroxytryptamine. The above results show that budipine demonstrates some properties of 5-HT uptake inhibitors.