Experimental study of the psychomotor activity of magnesium-pemoline

Abstract

The differences on the motor activity, psychoactive effects and possible mechanism of action of both Amphetainine and Magnesium-Pemoline have been studied. Motor activity has been assayed in the mouse with the «oscillating cage» method and the exploratory test. The latter and the maze test with the rat have also been used to evaluate the psy­choactive effects of the drugs. The mechanism of action has been studied on the isolated rat vas deferens prepara­tion.

According to the results obtained, the influence on the motor activity of both drugs seems to be clearly different. Following the administraron of Amphetamine, the action appears quickly, but is very transient. Following Magnesium-Pemoline the effect was not so quick, but it was more persistent and reached its maximum in about 6 hours. Both substances have shown very different effects on both exploratory and maze tests; while Amphetamine has a slight action or has no action at all, Magnesium-Pemoline possesses a definite action. On the isolate rat vas deferens preparation, Magne­sium-Pemoline has no direct or indirect sympathomimetic effect at all; Amphetamine shows a clearly indirect sympa­thomimetic effect. The potentiating ef­fect on catecholamines have been show with both substances, but much higher concentrations of Magnesium-Pemoline than of Amphetamine are needed to see this effect.