Increased intracranial self-stimulation in rats after long-term administration of desipramine.
The effects of long- and short-term administration of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine on intracranial self-stimulation in rats were studied with electrodes in the A10 region of the dopamine-containing cell bodies of the ventromedial tegmentum. Long-term desipramine administration resulted in a significant shift to the left in the ascending portion of the rate--current intensity function, indicating that the activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system was enhanced. These findings point to a possible dopaminergic mechanism of action of antidepressants and support speculations concerning the role of dopamine-containing neurons in the pathophysiology of depression.
D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D003891:Desipramine; D004298:Dopamine