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Evidence for feeding elicited through antihistaminergic effects of tricyclic antidepressants in the rat hypothalamus.

We studied central mechanisms of antidepressants that affect feeding behavior in rats. The tricyclic compounds amitriptyline, doxepin and imipramine significantly induced feeding after their infusion into the third cerebral ventricle in the light phase, but the tricyclic, desipramine, and the dicyclic zimelidine, did not. Drinking was not affected by any compound tested. The relative order of potency in eliciting feeding was: amitriptyline and doxepin greater than imipramine greater than desipramine and zimelidine. To clarify the involvement of neuronal histamine in antidepressant-induced feeding, alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), a "suicide" inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, was intraperitoneally administered before infusion of amitriptyline. FMH attenuated the amitriptyline's effect. Bilateral microinfusion of amitriptyline into the ventromedial hypothalamus or the paraventricular nucleus verfied that these are loci for the modulation of feeding by amitriptyline. In the lateral hypothalamus, amitriptyline was less effective. These findings indicate that tricyclic antidepressants directly facilitate feeding, which is, at least in part, mediated by histamine in the hypothalamus.

Amitriptyline↗

Monoamine uptake inhibitors alter cocaine pharmacokinetics.

The time course of change in plasma levels of cocaine and its major metabolite benzoylecgonine following 3 mg/kg IV cocaine and the pharmacokinetic interaction between cocaine and several monoamine uptake inhibitors were investigated in conscious rats implanted with arterial and venous cannulae. The IV bolus administration of 3 mg/kg cocaine resulted in plasma levels of 1276 +/- 53 ng/ml cocaine at 0.5 min following its injection and the levels then rapidly declined to 768 +/- 110 ng/ml by 2 min. Thereafter, the decline of plasma cocaine levels was relatively slow. Plasma benzoylecgonine levels were similar at 0.5 and 2 min following cocaine injection but increased gradually over the next 25 min. Pretreatment with the norepinephrine-selective uptake inhibitors desipramine and nisoxetine, the serotonin-selective uptake inhibitor fluoxetine or the dopamine-selective uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 all enhanced plasma levels of cocaine after a 3 mg/kg IV bolus injection at 0.5, but not at 5 min after injection. The enhancement of plasma cocaine levels by GBR 12909 was of greater magnitude than that produced by desipramine, nisoxetine or fluoxetine. These agents, with the exception of the high dose (10 mg/kg) of GBR 12909, did not significantly alter plasma levels of benzoylecgonine measured at either 0.5 or 5 min following cocaine injection. These results indicate that monoamine uptake inhibitors can alter or interfere with the pharmacokinetics of cocaine and that this interaction is not due to a change in the biotransformation of cocaine. It is suggested that the central monoamine uptake sites serving as rapid distribution sites for cocaine may play a role in this pharmacokinetic interaction.

Animals↗

Effects of chronic antidepressant treatment on beta-adrenoceptor subtype binding in the rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

The effects of desipramine, tranylcypromine, and phenelzine on beta-adrenoceptor subtype binding were measured in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The drugs were administered to male Sprague Dawley rats for 28 d sc via 2ML4 Alzet osmotic minipumps (desipramine HCl 10, tranylcypromine HCl 1, phenelzine sulfate 5, 10 mg kg-1/d). Binding of [3H]CGP 12177 was measured to determine total beta-adrenoceptor density in each brain region. The relative densities of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were directly calculated from competition analysis using ICI 89406 to displace [3H]CGP 12177. beta 1-Adrenoceptor density was decreased in cortical tissue following each antidepressant treatment, but no effects on beta 2-adrenoceptor density were evident. With cerebellar tissue, despite a higher density of beta 2-adrenoceptors in this area, no effects of antidepressants on beta 2-adrenoceptor density were evident. The present data confirm and extend previous reports of beta 1- but not beta 2-adrenoceptor downregulation in brain following chronic antidepressant drug treatment.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The antidepressant-like effect induced by the sigma(1) (sigma(1)) receptor agonist igmesine involves modulation of intracellular calcium mobilization.

RATIONALE: Activation of the neuronal sigma(1) (sigma(1)) receptor potentiates calcium mobilization, leading to effective modulation of postsynaptic responses to neurotransmitters. At the behavioral level, sigma(1) agonists modulate learning, response to stress and depression. In particular, the selective sigma(1) agonist igmesine reduced immobility in the forced swimming test. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of modulators of Ca(2+) influx and mobilization, administered intracerebroventricularly at doses ineffective alone, on the igmesine effect. The tricyclic antidepressant desipramine was also studied for comparison. RESULTS: The calcium chelator EGTA blocked both igmesine and desipramine-induced decreases of immobility duration, indicating the importance of extracellular Ca(2+) influx in the initial action of each compound. Both L- and N-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) appeared involved in the sigma(1) agonist effect. Verapamil, an L-type VDCC antagonist or omega-conotoxin GVI, a N-type VDCC antagonist, blocked whereas (-)-Bay K8644, a L-type VDCC agonist, potentiated the igmesine effect. Mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) stores is involved selectively in the effect mediated by the sigma(1) receptor, since the membrane permeable intracellular Ca(2+) chelator EGTA/AM affected only the igmesine effect. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) receptor-sensitive Ca(2+) pools appeared primarily involved, rather than Ca(2+)/caffeine-sensitive Ca(2+) pools. Indeed, the InsP(3) receptor positive modulator bradykinin potentiated, whereas the InsP(3) receptor antagonist xestospongin C blocked the igmesine effect. The ryanodine receptor agonist caffeine failed to affect the efficacy of igmesine, whereas the antagonist ryanodine reduced it. CONCLUSIONS: The sigma(1) receptor-mediated behavioral effect is dependent not only on rapid Ca(2+) influx, as observed for a classical antidepressant, but also on intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization.

Adrenalectomy↗

Baseline prolactin and L-tryptophan availability predict response to antidepressant treatment in major depression.

RATIONALE: Depression may be associated with a hypofunction of central serotonin (5HT) systems. The prolactin response to fenfluramine (PRF) is an indicator of 5HT activity. It has been suggested that the PRF may predict response to different forms of treatment. Baseline cortisol, prolactin, and L-tryptophan ( L-TRP) availability may affect PRF and may also influence response to treatment. METHOD: In this study, 46 males and 58 females with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of major depression underwent a detailed clinical evaluation and prior to treatment had baseline measures of prolactin, cortisol, L-TRP, and other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) taken and underwent a fenfluramine challenge. The subjects with major depression entered a 6-week double-blind treatment trial comparing clomipramine and desipramine. RESULTS: There was no effect on the 6-week outcome of treatment (clomipramine versus desipramine), PRF or baseline cortisol and no interactions between these factors. However, there was a significant effect of baseline prolactin (BLP) and a significant interaction between TRP/LNAA ratio and BLP. Post-hoc analysis revealed that at low TRP/LNAA values, outcome improved as prolactin levels increased while at high TRP/LNAA values the opposite was the case. CONCLUSION: The PRF did not predict 6-week outcome. BLP and TRP/LNAA ratio measurement is easy and may be useful clinically. We hypothesise that failure to upregulate post-synaptic 5HT receptors in response to low 5HT availability predicts a poor response to antidepressant treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

Age differences in the sensitivity to clomipramine in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

RATIONALE: Subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) related to age could determine differential response to treatment. OBJECTIVES: To explore possible age differences in the effect of clomipramine in an animal model of OCD. METHODS: The deficits on spontaneous alternation produced by 8-OH-DPAT and the preventing actions of clomipramine, desipramine and WAY 100635 were compared between young and adult rats. RESULTS: No age differences were found in spontaneous alternation. The 5-HT(1A) agonist, 8-OH-DPAT (0.031, 0.125, 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, -15 min) produced perseveration in young and adult rats. However, young rats were sensitive to a lower dose of 8-OH-DPAT. Clomipramine (10 mg/kg per three administrations) completely prevented the action of 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg) in adult rats. However, this treatment as well as higher doses (15 mg/kg 3 administrations) or injected for longer periods (10 mg/kg 5 administrations) produced weak protective effects (versus 0.125 mg/kg 8-OH-DPAT) or had no action (versus 0.5 mg/kg 8-OH-DPAT) in young animals. WAY 100 635 (0.5 mg/kg) blocked the action of 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg) in both young and adult rats. Desipramine (10 mg/kg/3 administrations) lacked of a preventive effect on the 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg) action. This result indicated that the 5-HT(1A) receptor is involved in the deficits on spontaneous alternation produced by 8-OH-DPAT. CONCLUSIONS: The present data shows important age differences in the effect of clomipramine in a model of OCD. Such differences could be relevant for the age variations in the response to treatment in clinical practice.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Effects of acute treatment with antidepressant drugs on sensorimotor gating deficits in rats.

RATIONALE: Schizophrenic patients have a deficit in prepulse inhibition (PPI) which can be modelled in rats by administration of direct or indirect dopamine (DA) receptor agonists and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. Moreover, antipsychotics reverse the disruptive effect of DA agonists and NMDA receptor antagonists in this rat model. Consequently, this model is considered as predictive of antipsychotic action in the clinic. However, the effect of compounds, such as antidepressants, used for other psychiatric disorders but also administered to patients with schizophrenia has not been well investigated in this model. Antidepressants have been suggested not to affect PPI in humans. Thus, antidepressants are not expected to antagonise PPI disruption in rats, and should normally be used as negative controls in this model. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of three antidepressant compounds, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor in the rat PPI model. METHODS: The effect of acute treatment with citalopram, bupropion and desipramine on d-amphetamine-disrupted and phencyclidine (PCP)-disrupted PPI in rats was investigated. Ziprasidone was tested as a positive control. RESULTS: None of the antidepressants, in contrast to ziprasidone, reversed PCP-disrupted PPI in rats. Both desipramine and ziprasidone normalised d-amphetamine-disrupted PPI, while citalopram and bupropion were inactive. CONCLUSIONS: PCP-disrupted PPI in rats was less sensitive to false positives than the d-amphetamine-disrupted PPI model, based on the antidepressants tested in this study.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

Antidepressants differentially affect expression of complexin I and II RNA in rat hippocampus.

Disturbance of synaptic transmission is currently viewed as an important pathophysiological mechanism and therapeutic target of mood disorders. Amongst other lines of evidence this theory is based on human post-mortem investigations showing differential expression of complexins. In order to discriminate between molecular correlates of the disease itself and effects of psychotropic drugs given to patients, we performed an animal trial using subchronic antidepressant treatment. Cohorts of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated over a period of 14 days with intraperitoneal injections of either saline (0.9%, n=8), desipramine (15 mg/kg, n=7), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, n=8), or tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg, n=5). Brain slices were used for in situ hybridizations with 35S labelled RNA probes of the genes complexin I, complexin II and syntaxin 1 A, the SNARE complex protein interacting with the complexins, and assessed semi-quantitatively for region-specific expression levels. Expression of complexin I was induced only in habenular nuclei after treatment with fluoxetine. In contrast, complexin II was significantly induced by desipramine and tranylcypromine, but not fluoxetine, in several brain regions. All treatment groups, but most significantly fluoxetine-treated animals, showed higher expression levels of syntaxin 1A. Antidepressants differentially affect expression levels of complexin I and more prominently complexin II and syntaxin 1A. The induction of complexin II and syntaxin 1A might strengthen the synaptic transmission at axo-dendritic or axo-axonal synapses. Previous post-mortem findings reporting on downregulation of complexins cannot be explained as mere effects of psychotropic drug treatment.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

Chronic administration of the delta opioid receptor agonist (+)BW373U86 and antidepressants on behavior in the forced swim test and BDNF mRNA expression in rats.

RATIONALE: Selective delta opioid receptor agonists have been shown to produce antidepressant-like behavioral effects and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression when given acutely, but the chronic effects of delta agonists have been less well characterized. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the effects of chronic exposure to the delta agonist (+)BW373U86 (BW) on antidepressant-like behavior in the forced swim test and on BDNF mRNA expression in comparison to chronic treatment with the antidepressants fluoxetine, desipramine, bupropion, and tranylcypromine. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated chronic ally with one of the above treatments and were tested for antidepressant effects in the forced swim test, and assayed for BDNF mRNA expression by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Acute administration of 10 mg/kg BW produced a significant antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test, while chronic (8- or 21-day) BW administration did not produce a significant antidepressant-like effect. When 10 mg/kg BW was administered for 8 days, it produced a significant increase in BDNF mRNA expression in the frontal cortex, while having no effect on BDNF expression when given for 21 days. Chronic bupropion and desipramine significantly decreased BDNF expression in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, while fluoxetine had no effect in any brain region. Chronic tranylcypromine produced a significant increase in BDNF expression in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure to BW produces tolerance to most effects, although at differential rates. In addition, increased BDNF mRNA expression does not appear to be a common effect of chronic administration of various antidepressants.

Animals↗

Behavioral disinhibition requires dopamine receptor activation.

RATIONALE: Behavioral disinhibition is a manifestation of impulsive behavior that is prominent in the psychopathology of various psychiatric disorders, but the underlying neural mechanisms are unclear. Behavioral disinhibition can be investigated by measuring premature responding in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in which attentional parameters can be measured as well. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the involvement of dopamine neurotransmission in behavioral disinhibition using the 5-CSRTT in rats. METHODS: The effects of amphetamine, cocaine, nicotine, the dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR 12909, the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor desipramine, the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390, and the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride were studied in rats that were well-trained in the 5-CSRTT. Subsequently, the effects of amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine were tested after pretreatment with SCH 23390 or eticlopride. RESULTS: What amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine had in common is that they increased premature responding. However, these drugs had distinct effects on attentional parameters. GBR 12909 also enhanced premature responding, whereas desipramine reduced it. Eticlopride by itself had no effect on premature responding but it attenuated the increases in this parameter evoked by amphetamine, cocaine, or nicotine. SCH 23390 reduced premature responding on its own and also reduced its drug-induced enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: The present data show that behavioral disinhibition, i.e., the inability to withhold a premature response, is a common effect of drugs of abuse and that this effect is the result of enhanced dopaminergic neurotransmission. In addition, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors play important, but perhaps distinct roles, in inhibitory control of behavior.

Amphetamine↗

Sensitivity to the effects of pharmacologically selective antidepressants in different strains of mice.

RATIONALE: Recent advances in neurobehavioral genetics have increased the importance of research on the behavioral patterns of different mouse strains. A comprehensive comparison of inbred and outbred mouse strains was conducted to provide information on the range of performance and pharmacological effects in the forced swimming test, a behavioral test commonly used to measure the effects of antidepressant drugs. OBJECTIVES: Baseline performance and pharmacological responses to desipramine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, were compared in seven inbred and four outbred mouse strains in the forced swimming test. METHODS: Swim sessions were conducted by placing mice in individual glass cylinders filled with water for 6 min. The duration of behavioral immobility during the last 4 min of the test was scored from videotapes. RESULTS: A 10-fold range of immobility values and coefficient of variation supported the existence of substantial behavioral differences between mouse strains in baseline performance in the FST. In general, inbred strains demonstrated lower variability than outbred strains. Desipramine dose-dependently reduced immobility in seven of the 11 strains tested, with DBA/2J and the C57BL/6J mice showing greater sensitivity than the other strains. In contrast, fluoxetine reduced immobility in only three out of the 11 strains tested, DBA/2J, BALB/cJ and NIH Swiss mice. CONCLUSIONS: Background strain is a critical variable in determining baseline performance and the sensitivity to different types of antidepressant drugs in the mouse FST. The use of such mouse strains may provide information on the genetic basis for strain differences in depressive behavior and differential sensitivity to diverse classes of antidepressants.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

Binding of phenothiazine neuroleptics to plasma proteins.

The binding of chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, perphenazine, desipramine, propranolol and salicylic acid to human plasma and isolated plasma proteins was studied using equilibrium dialysis. Unlike salicylic acid, an acidic compound only bound to human serum albumin, the basic drugs were bound to all plasma protein fractions studied (albumin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, lipoproteins, gamma-globulins) with alpha 1-acid glycoprotein an important binding protein for each of them. The interaction of chloropromazine, perphenazine and trifluoperazine with alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was studied using Scatchard analysis. The primary class of binding sites revealed a low capacity (n = 0.5-1) and a high affinity (K = 10(5)-10(6) M-1) for the phenothiazines. The interaction of chlorpromazine, perphenazine and trifluoperazine with albumin was of the high capacity-low affinity type. In binding studies using plasma obtained from healthy volunteers, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was found to be a very important binding protein for the basic drug studied with the exception of desipramine. This shows that results derived from binding studies using isolated protein fractions should be interpreted with caution.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Studies on the uptake and release of propranolol and the effects of propranolol on catecholamines in cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Uptake and release of [3H]l-propranolol and the effects of propranolol on the uptake and release of [3H]norepinephrine were studied in cultures of isolated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. [3H]l-Propranolol uptake increased with increasing [3H]l-propranolol concentration from 10(-7) M to 10(-3) M and was not saturable in this concentration range. [3H]l-Propranolol uptake was equally inhibited by l- and d-propranolol, indicating that the uptake is not stereoselective. [3H]l-Propranolol uptake differed from [3H]norepinephrine uptake in two respects: [3H]l-propranolol uptake was 44-50 times greater than [3H]norepinephrine uptake at early non-equilibrium time periods, and [3H]l-propranolol uptake was not Na+ dependent and was not inhibited by desipramine, indicating that [3H]l-propranolol is not taken up by the biogenic amine transport system. In cells preloaded with [3H]l-propranolol, two agents, veratridine and tyramine, stimulated an increased release of [3H]l-propranolol into the medium. However, veratridine-induced [3H]l-propranolol release was inhibited only slightly by the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin, and tyramine-induced [3H]l-propranolol release was not inhibited by desipramine. In addition, K+, carbachol and the physiological mediator of adrenal catecholamine release, acetylcholine, failed to evoke [3H]l-propranolol release. Therefore, it is unlikely that propranolol is released in response to physiological stimulation of adrenal chromaffin cells in animals administered propranolol in vivo. l-Propranolol inhibited [3H]norepinephrine uptake by chromaffin cells with an IC50 for l-propranolol of 5 X 10(-6) M; d-propranolol was equally potent for this effect at lower propranolol concentrations. By themselves, neither l- nor d-propranolol had any effect on [3H]norepinephrine release from the cells. However, l-propranolol inhibited carbachol-induced [3H]norepinephrine release with an IC50 for l-propranolol of 5 X 10(-7) M to 10(-6) M. At these lower concentrations, d-propranolol had no effect on carbachol-induced [3H]norepinephrine release, indicating that the inhibition by l-propranolol may be mediated via beta-adrenoceptors on chromaffin cells.

Acetylcholine↗

Comparison of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) effects on mouse heart norepinephrine.

MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) mimicked MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) in producing marked, dose-related depletion of cardiac norepinephrine after a single oral or subcutaneous dose in mice. MPP+ was approximately 4-fold more potent than MPTP in depleting norepinephrine, but the onset of depletion was not faster for MPP+ than for MPTP. The time courses of the effects of both compounds were similar to that for 6-hydroxydopamine, with maximum depletion occurring at 1 day, partial recovery at 2 and 4 days, and full recovery of norepinephrine concentrations at 1 week. Desipramine, over a dose range that completely prevented the depletion of cardiac norepinephrine by 6-hydroxydopamine at 24 hr, did not prevent cardiac norepinephrine depletion by either MPP+ or MPTP. In a short duration experiment, one or two doses of desipramine also failed to prevent heart norepinephrine depletion by MPP+ or by MPTP, although a slight antagonism was found. EXP 561 (4-phenylbicyclo[2,2,2]octan-1-amine hydrochloride monohydrate), another uptake inhibitor with possibly longer duration of action, also did not protect against norepinephrine depletion by a single dose of MPP+ or MPTP at a dose that prevented norepinephrine depletion by 6-hydroxydopamine. In mice given four daily doses of MPTP, EXP 561 prevented the depletion of norepinephrine in the frontal cortex and of dopamine in the striatum but not the depletion of norepinephrine in heart or spleen. Thus, both MPTP and MPP+ deplete norepinephrine in mouse heart, and this effect of the two compounds is resistant to antagonism by uptake inhibitors that antagonize the effects of MPTP on brain catecholamines.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Evaluation of central adrenergic receptor signal transmissions after an antidepressant administration to the rat.

The effects of several antidepressants, amitriptyline, citalopram, desipramine, fluoxetine, maprotiline, mianserin, nialamide, nomifensine, tranylcypromine and viloxazine, on the accumulation of cyclic AMP and inositol monophosphates were studied in rat cerebral cortical slices. The two enzymatic systems were stimulated either by adrenergic agonists or by forskolin. Cyclic AMP and inositol monophosphates (IPs) formed were determined by a double label method. In vitro all drugs, except inhibitors of monoamine oxidase, nialamide and tranylcypromine, inhibited alpha 1-agonist-mediated production but did not modify the cyclic AMP accumulation. Otherwise, chronic desipramine but not citalopram administration decreased the accumulation of cyclic AMP (-39%) elicited by beta-adrenoceptor agonists; no change was observed in inositol phosphate metabolism after administration of these two drugs. These data support previous investigations showing a decrease in cyclic AMP production after chronic treatment with norepinephrine uptake blockers but do not confirm the hypothesis of a modification of alpha 1-adrenoceptor-stimulated inositol phosphate metabolism.

Animals↗

Fluoxetine treatment alters leukocyte trafficking in the intrathecal compartment of the young primate.

To evaluate possible long-term effects of exposure to monoaminergic drugs, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from adolescent monkeys that had been treated with desipramine and fluoxetine in infancy. This evaluation focused on the number and type of leukocytes in CSF as a reflection of cell trafficking in the intrathecal compartment. Monkeys administered fluoxetine 2 years prior to the sample collection evinced significantly higher numbers of leukocytes in CSF than did either control or desipramine-treated subjects. The elevated cell count was accounted for primarily by increased numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. The finding of higher cell numbers in CSF was replicated in a second sample from the fluoxetine-treated monkey obtained 1.5 years later. Because the cell profile in blood was unaffected by the prior drug treatments, these observations indicate a need for further study of serotonergic influences on regulation of the intrathecal compartment in the developing individual.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

Catecholamine synthesis regulation in hypothalamic synaptosomes.

In order to characterize the properties of synaptosomal catecholamine formation in a predominantly noradrenergic preparation, we have studied catecholamine synthesis in rat brain hypothalamic synaptosomes. Kinetic analysis revealed an apparent Km for tyrosine of 2.5 microM and an apparent Vmax of 2.1 nmol/h/g. In the hypothalamus, norepinephrine-induced synthesis inhibition was completely reversed by preincubation with desipramine, a blocker of catecholamine uptake into noradrenergic tissue. In contrast, desipramine was relatively ineffective in the predominantly dopaminergic striatum, indicating that most of the catecholamine synthesis observed in the hypothalamic synaptosomes was taking place in noradrenergic, as opposed to dopaminergic, terminals. Synthesis was stimulated approximately 30% in the hypothalamus by elevated (55 mM) potassium. This stimulation was markedly antagonized in a calcium-free buffer and by the addition of tetraethylammonium chloride. Phenylethylamine compounds could produce either stimulation (amphetamine) or inhibition (tyramine). The most effective synthesis stimulator was dibutyryl cyclic AMP (80% stimulation at 2 mM). Lowering the pH of the incubation buffer from 7.2 to 6.2 increased the basal rate but decreased the stimulatory response to elevated potassium. These data suggest that synaptosomal preparations from the hypothalamus offer a convenient system for studying drug effects on catecholamine synthesis in noradrenergic terminals.

Animals↗

Characterization of sodium-dependent, high-affinity serotonin uptake in rat spinal cord synaptosomes.

Synaptosomal accumulation of [3H]serotonin was used to determine if the rat spinal cord possesses a high-affinity neuronal uptake system for serotonin. Two temperature-dependent accumulation processes were found, one sodium-dependent, the second sodium-independent. Sodium-dependent [3H]serotonin accumulation was linear with sodium concentrations up to 143 mM, was associated with the purified synaptosomal fraction (P2B), and decreased 76% by osmotic lysis, 88% by sonication, and 96% by 0.1% Triton X-100. Drug inhibition studies demonstrated fluoxetine to be the most potent inhibitor of this system (IC50 0.075 microM) while desipramine (IC50 0.43 microM) and nomifensine (IC50 0.95 microM) were less potent. Kinetic analysis revealed that sodium-dependent accumulation in purified synaptosomes was saturable at low [3H]serotonin concentrations (Ku = 50 nM, Vmax = 4 pmol/mg protein/min). Sodium-independent [3H]5-HT accumulation was substantially less sensitive to fluoxetine, desipramine and nomifensine. While sodium-independent accumulation was not significantly affected by osmotic lysis, it was markedly increased by prior sonication of tissue. Also, in contrast to sodium-dependent accumulation, sodium-independent accumulation was evenly distributed in all tissue fractions, and was not saturable at low [3H]serotonin concentrations. It is concluded that sodium-dependent [3H]serotonin accumulation reflects uptake into spinal serotonergic nerve terminals while sodium-independent accumulation probably reflects a temperature-sensitive binding to membrane fragments. Comparison to brain uptake of serotonin and the necessity for using 37 degrees C sodium-free blanks rather than 0 degree C blanks in spinal cord homogenates is discussed.

Animals↗

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