title: Inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate activated ion current by desmethylimipramine.
abstract: The tricyclic antidepressant desmethylimipramine (DMI) interacts with the NMDA receptor/ionophore complex; however, the site of the interaction has not been clearly established.  Although evidence from receptor binding assays suggests that DMI interacts with the Zn2+ binding site, other binding studies and electrophysiological studies suggest otherwise. Using the whole-cell patch clamp technique to record from cultured hippocampal neurons, we report that recovery of NMDA-activated current from block by DMI is time-dependent and this time-dependent component was not observed following preexposure of neurons to Zn2+. These observations favor the hypothesis that DMI interacts at a binding site within the NMDA receptor/complex channel pore and not at the Zn2+ binding site.
authors.affiliation: Section of Electrophysiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lovinger
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Peoples
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Weight
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015032:Zinc; D003891:Desipramine