In Vitro and Ex Vivo Neurochemical Screening Procedures for Antidepressants, Neuroleptics, and Benzodiazepines

Abstract

Our knowledge of the biochemical actions of antidepressants, neuroleptics, and anxiolytics at the cellular and molecular level has led to the development of a number of rather rapid and inexpensive in vitro and ex vivo screening procedures that have proven useful in identifying new drugs with psychotropic properties, The biochemical actions most frequently tested include effects on uptake of radiolabeled biogenic amines by nerve-ending preparations, effects on monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, and actions on binding of radiohgands to binding sites prepared from brain tissue. In the following review, each of these, along with effects on adenylate cyclase, will be considered, and the descriptions will include examples of specific applications and a discussion of how these tests fit into the overall strategies for testing potential psychotropic drugs.