Danitracen (WA 335) is an antidepressant compound developed in the 1970s. Danitracen acts by blocking central and peripheral 5-HT receptors: it potentiates testosterone-induced sexual behavior in rats and abolishes the 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) induced hypermotility in mice. In amphetamine-treated rats, administration of danitracen lowered whole brain serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Danitracen was investigated in clinical trials in depressed patients. At 3 mg/day, danitracen was equipotent to 150 mg/day amitriptyline.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
^Engelhardt G (November 1975). "[On the pharmacology of 9,10-dihydro-10-(1-methyl-4-piperidylidene)-9-anthrol (WA 335), a histamine and serotonin antagonist (author's transl)]". Arzneimittel-Forschung (in German). 25 (11): 1723–37. PMID1049.
^"Danitracen". Inxight Drugs. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
^Maj J, Baran L, Sowińska H, Gancarczyk L (1976). "The action of compound WA-335 on the central nervous system". Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis. 24 (2): 205–22. PMID945051.
^Maj J, Sowińska H, Baran L (1976). "Influence of WA-335, a factor which blocks serotonin receptors, on neuroleptic-induced catalepsy". Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis. 24 (2): 197–203. PMID945050.
^Matussek N, Benkert O, Fidetzis K, Flach D, Hermann HU, Kaumeier S, et al. (1976). "[Comparison of the effects of the anthracene derivative danitracen (WA335-BS) and amitriptyline in depressive patients (author's transl)]". Arzneimittel-Forschung (in German). 26 (6): 1160–2. PMID786311.