Picrotoxin changes the effects of imipramine and desipramine in rats in the forced swimming test.
The aim was to find whether the chloride channel blocker, picrotoxin, at subconvulsant doses could affect the activity of imipramine or desipramine in the 'forced swimming' test with rats. It was found that picrotoxin enhanced the anti-immobility effects of imipramine and desipramine whereas open field activity remained unaffected or was even decreased by the same treatments. The results seem consistent with recent reports showing direct interactions between several antidepressant drugs and the GABAA receptor/benzodiazepine receptor/chloride ionophore complex (GABAA/benzodiazepine/Cl complex). The results also conform with the hypothesis that a reduction in the functionality of this complex could be related to the clinical effects of antidepressant drugs.
Fernández-Teruel
A
A
Department of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
Escorihuela
R M
RM
Boix
F
F
Tobeña
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013550:Swimming
D003891:Desipramine; D007099:Imipramine; D010852:Picrotoxin