Comparison of the effects of chronic desmethylimipramine administration on alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors in different regions of rat brain.
The effects of ten once-daily injections of desmethylimipramine (10 mg/kg i.p.) on alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding were investigated in the rat cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus. [3H]clonidine and [3H]dihydroalprenolol were used as ligands for alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, the density of beta-adrenoceptors was reduced in all regions studied. In contrast, there was no change in alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding in the cortex, while increased binding was found in the hypothalamus. The effects of desmethylimipramine are discussed in relation to those of other antidepressant treatments.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects*
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D003891:Desipramine