title: Reversible, short-lasting, and dose-dependent effect of (+)-fenfluramine on neocortical serotonergic axons.
abstract: Dextrofenfluramine [+)-fenfluramine) is the dextro-optical isomer of the racemic compound (+/-)-fenfluramine. This compound stimulates the release of serotonin (5-HT) and blocks its re-uptake in serotonergic nerve terminals. (+)-Fenfluramine and its nor metabolite which have been localized in significant amounts in the rat brain are useful anorectic agents in animals. In humans, (+)-fenfluramine is used as an anti-obesity agent when administered orally in doses of 0.25 mg/kg/twice a day. Studies in some animal species (such as the rat and monkey, but not mice) using high doses of (+)-fenfluramine (administered subcutaneously) have shown long-term neurochemical and immunocytochemical effects in selected brain regions. In the present study we used the rat to determine the mechanism underlying the anorectic effect of orally administered (+)-fenfluramine. The rat was selected because long-term effects of (+)-fenfluramine have been previously described in this species. In addition, a variety of other aspects of orally administered (+)-fenfluramine have been addressed in this study. For example, how long does the depletion of 5-HT in the nerve terminals last following cessation of the drug treatment? i.e. is the effect reversible? Is this depletion of 5-HT and the resultant abnormal morphology of 5-HT-immunoreactive nerve terminals seen at high doses dose-dependent? Since some of these questions relate to morphological evaluation of this drug in brain 5-HT systems, we have examined this system as part of our ongoing effort to examine brain monoaminergic systems under perturbed conditions. We have used a morphological (immunocytochemical) approach to answer these questions. The primary function of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-term exposure (4 days) to varying doses of orally administered (+)-fenfluramine on 5-HT-immunoreactive nerve terminals in the frontal cortex of the rat. The frontal cortex was selected because it contains a homogeneous population of nerve fibers and terminals unlike other cortical regions, the hippocampus, striatum and the hypothalamus where a mixed population of coarse and fine fibers has been described. Since the previously reported effect of fenfluramine on 5-HT nerve terminals was the appearance of coarse fibers, the region of cortex selected for this study showed no coarse fibers in the pair-fed control. This essential feature of control regions has not been used in previous studies on this subject. The present study demonstrates that (+)-fenfluramine produces a dose-dependent reduction in 5-HT immunoreactivity of 5-HT nerve terminals in the neocortex of adult rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014191:Tranylcypromine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D014191:Tranylcypromine