The effect of long-term chlorpromazine and desipramine treatment on adrenal corticosterone, cyclic AMP, and cholesterol distribution in rats.
1. Male rats were injected intraperitoneally with chlorpromazine (10 mg/kg) and desipramine (10 mg/kg), respectively, twice daily for 2 weeks. 2. The adrenal corticosterone concentrations were significantly lowered in chlorpromazine- and desipramine-treated rats. 3. Large dose of corticotrophin would increase the adrenal corticosterone level in chlorpromazine-treated but the adrenal response was significantly less than in the untreated controls. 4. The adrenal cyclic AMP level was similar in treated and control rats and the adrenal response to corticotrophin was not decreased at the cyclic AMP level. 5. The cholesteryl ester concentrations in the adrenals were significantly increased by drug treatment, although the free cholesterol concentrations were unchanged in the cytosol and mitochondrial cell fractions. 6. The possible site of action of chlorpromazine in suppressing corticosterone production is discussed.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D003891:Desipramine; D002746:Chlorpromazine; D003345:Corticosterone