title: [Inhibitory effects of imipramine on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in rat fronto-cortical cultured neurons].
abstract: We examined the effects of imipramine on cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat fronto-cortical cultured neurons exposed to various treatments (high K+, acetylcholine; ACh or noradrenaline; NA) using the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. Imipramine inhibited high K(+)-induced [Ca2+]i increases with IC50 value of 71 microM, after washing the cells free of the drug, these effects were abolished. ACh and NA increased [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner. Imipramine also inhibited ACh- and NA-induced [Ca2+]i increases with IC50 values of 3.7 and 4.1 microM, respectively. These results indicated that imipramine inhibited the high K(+)-induced [Ca2+]i increase by the blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, and the ACh- and NA-induced ]Ca2+i increases by the blockade of muscarinic receptors and alpha 1-adrenoceptors, respectively. Moreover, imipramine abolished the [Ca2+]i oscillations, periodic fluctuations in [Ca2+]i were observed in a few cells only. Because [Ca2+]i oscillations were mediated by not only voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, but also various receptors, it was likely that the inhibition of [Ca2+]i oscillations by imipramine was due to the blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, muscarinic receptors or alpha 1-adrenoceptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Kure National Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000109:Acetylcholine; D007099:Imipramine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine