title: Effects of tricyclic antidepressants on the content and metabolism of dopamine in the rat striatum.
abstract: The effects of tricyclic antidepressants: imipramine (IMI), desmethylimipramine (DMI), and amitriptyline (AMI) on the levels and metabolism of dopamine (DA) in rat striatum were investigated. All three antidepressant drugs produced at 60 min a marked increase in striatal DA content. The DA-enhancing effect of DMI was dose dependent until a ceiling (about 140% increase) was reached. The time-course study of DMI (10 mg/kg) revealed a biphasic effect: an initial accumulation of DA peaking at 60 min followed by a decline in levels to about 20% of controls at 3 h after administration. In DMI-treated rats, homovanilic acid concentration was decreased to 58% at 60 min, but increased to 118% at 3 h, whereas 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels were unchanged at 60 min, but significantly suppressed at 3-h time interval. The observed effects of tricyclic anti-depressants on striatal DA may be relevant to the beneficial effect of these compounds in Parkinson's disease.
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001590:Benztropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D000639:Amitriptyline; D001590:Benztropine; D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid