Antagonism of reserpine-induced emesis in pigeons: a screening method for antidepressant activity.

1. Various antidepressant drugs and procedures have been studied against reserpine-induced emesis in pigeons.2. Electroconvulsions, pentylenetetrazol and a non-hydrazide monoamine oxidase inhibitor (pargyline) block reserpine emesis.3. It is suggested that reserpine-induced emesis in pigeons provides a simple and reliable method for studying anti-reserpine activity, and the compounds effective in antagonizing this emetic response are likely to have antidepressant property.