Psychopharmacology of midalcipran, 1-phenyl-1-diethyl-amino-carbonyl-2-aminomethylcyclopropane hydrochloride (F 2207), a new potential antidepressant

Midalcipran is a new potential antidepressant selected for its equipotent inhibition of noradrenaline and serotonin uptake and its lack of effect at any postsynaptic receptor. In mice it antagonized the depressant effect of tetrabenazine with an oral ED50 value of 0.5 mg/kg as compared to 2.5 mg/kg for desipramine and 5.1 mg/kg for imipramine. Similar findings were obtained for the inhibition of yohimbine-induced mortality. In the “behavioral despair” test, in mice, immobility was significantly reduced by 10 mg/kg midalcipran whereas 20 mg/kg of desipramine was required for a similar effect. Midalcipran enhanced the behavioral changes induced by 1-tryptophan in the rat and antagonized p-chloramphetamine-induced hyperthermia in mice. In contrast to tricyclic antidepressants, midalcipran showed no anticholinergic, sedative or stimulant properties.