GABAergic effects of reserpine following chronic treatment.
Reserpine-induced depression has been used as an animal model to screen for antidepressant agents. Chronic (14-day) treatment with reserpine resulted in a significant increase in beta-adrenergic receptor binding in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, which was partially prevented by chronic treatment with either the antidepressant imipramine, the GABA-A agonist THIP or, the GABA-B agonist baclofen. Chronic treatment with reserpine also significantly increased 3H-GABA receptor binding, which was partially prevented by chronic treatment with either imipramine or THIP. Both subchronic and chronic administration of reserpine resulted in a decrease in GABA concentrations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These data demonstrate the effect of reserpine treatment on the GABA-ergic system, and add further support for a functional coupling between the noradrenergic and GABA-ergic systems, which may be important for the mechanism of action of antidepressant agents.
D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D007555:Isoxazoles; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol; D012110:Reserpine; D001418:Baclofen; C015542:gaboxadol; D007099:Imipramine