“Catecholaminergic activity enhancer effect” refers to an increase of catecholamine synthesis induced by a substance. The term was introduced by Joseph Knoll in 1998 in reference to findings that in rats treated for 21 days with deprenyl (0.01 mg/kg/day), a synthetic β-phenylethylamine derivative, the release of  dopamine from the corpus striatum, substantia nigra and tuberculum olfactorium, and norepinephrine from the locus coeruleus was statistically significantly (p< 0.001) increased 24 hours after the injection of the last dose (Knoll and Miklya 1994). He also used it in reference to deprenyl-induced enhancement of electrical-stimulation-induced release of tritiated catecholamines from isolated rat brain stem (Knoll et al. 1996).

Knoll J. (-)-Deprenyl (selegiline) a catecholaminergic activity enhancer (CAE) substance acting in the brain. Pharmacology and Toxicology 1998; 82: 57-66

Knoll J, Miklya I. Multiple, small dose administration of (-)-deprenyl enhances catecholaminergic activity and diminishes serotonergic activity in the brain and these effects are unrelated to MAO-B inhibition. Archives internationales Pharmacodynamie de Therapie 1994; 328: 1187-209

Joseph Knoll

April 17, 2014