Chronic antidepressant treatment increases the apomorphine-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone in rats.
Plasma corticosterone concentrations in response to subcutaneous administration of apomorphine (25 and 200 micrograms kg-1) have been assessed in rats treated acutely (2 days) or repeatedly (15 days) with saline, clomipramine, electroshock and clomipramine + electroshock. Chronic, but not acute, antidepressant treatment decreased the corticosterone level which remained unchanged in control and in rats acutely treated with apomorphine. Chronic antidepressant treatment significantly increased the corticosterone response to apomorphine. Neuroendocrine evidence is provided for an increased responsiveness of dopamine receptors which are thought to mediate the apomorphine effect on corticosterone secretion following chronic antidepressant treatment.
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001058:Apomorphine; D002997:Clomipramine; D003345:Corticosterone