Neomycin and ruthenium red antagonism of monoaminergic depression of cerebral cortical neurones

Neomycin and ruthenium red, two agents which are known to interfere with the transport and binding of calcium, antagonize the depressant actions of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine on cerebral cortical neurones. Ouabain and sodium azide, metabolic inhibitors, also block the action of noradrenaline. These findings support earlier suggestions that monoaminergic depression of cortical neurones involves a calcium-dependent mechanism which may be linked to a membrane ion pump.