Effects of the chronic ingestion of therapeutic doses of chlorimipramine on the behavioral action of agonists and antagonists of serotonin in male rats.
Locomotor activity and hole-board exploration (frequency and time spent head-dipping) were impaired in male rats by injecting IP the 5-HT agonists, fluoxetine and 5-HTP. This treatment produced also myoclonus and increased the time spent resting during trials. The chronic ingestion of chlorimipramine (CIM) or the injection of the 5-HT receptor blocker, methysergide (15 mg/kg) prevented the action of the 5-HT agonists on locomotion and resting and blocked the appearance of myoclonus. Both CIM and methysergide prevented to a minor degree the fluoxetine-5-HTP-induced decrease of exploration. The chronic ingestion of CIM clearly potentiated the effects of methysergide on hole-board exploration. Results suggest that the chronic treatment with therapeutic doses of CIM reduces the functional activity of some 5-HT systems in the brain of the rat, probably by blockade of post-synaptic 5-HT receptors. This does not preclude, however, that CIM may also alter some NA systems.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000503:physiopathology; D011437:Propylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*
D011437:Propylamines; D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D002997:Clomipramine; D008784:Methysergide