title: Effect of fluoxetine on the spontaneous electrical activity of fronto-cortical neurons.
abstract: The effect of fluoxetine on spontaneous extracellular activity of fronto-cortical neurons of chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats was investigated. Fluoxetine significantly increased the basal firing rate of cortical neurons in a dose-dependent manner (0.1-1000 micrograms kg-1 i.v.), with a maximum excitatory effect of 53% at 1000 micrograms kg-1. Selective destruction of ascending serotoninergic pathways induced by intracerebroventricular injections of 150 micrograms 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, in desipramine-pretreated rats, antagonized the excitatory effect of fluoxetine. The present results suggest that fluoxetine significantly increases the electrical activity of the fronto-cortical neurons acting on serotoninergic uptake mechanisms localized at the level of raphe nuclei.
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Italia, S.p.A., Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baschirotto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borsini
mesh_terms: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D003891:Desipramine; D009638:Norepinephrine