Variability of chronic antidepressant treatments on beta-adrenergic receptor sites.
It has been proposed that down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors may be related to the therapeutic action of antidepressants. To further characterize the role of beta-adrenergic receptor regulation in the actions of antidepressants, the effects of chronic treatment with desipramine, zimelidine and bupropion on beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain membrane preparations were studied. Chronic treatment with desipramine, but not zimelidine and bupropion decreased significantly the density of beta-adrenergic receptors. These data suggest that clinically effective antidepressants may vary considerably in their ability to down-regulate beta-adrenergic receptors after chronic treatment.
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta