EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ON NEUROTUBULE ASSEMBLY

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Abstract
Abstract— The interaction of psychotropic drugs with brain microtubules was assessed by viscometry, [3H]colchicine binding studies and neurite growth in neuroblastoma cells in tissue culture. Of the thirteen drug‐ tested, only d‐amphetamine, chlorpromazine and reserpine inhibited the in vitro repoly‐merization of microtubules. However, the maximal drug effects observed in these studies occurred at concentrations in excess of the pharmacologically theraputic range. These results suggest: (1) the affinity of these drugs for tubulin appears to be similar to, but clearly less than, that observed for colchicine; (2) the toxic side effects of these drugs may be mediated, in part, by the microtubule system; (3) these drugs may inhibit microtubule assembly by disrupting secondary processes rather than by a direct interaction with tubulin.

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