title: Effect of the alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist mirtazapine on the 5-hydroxytryptamine system in the rat brain.
abstract: Mirtazapine ([(+/-)-MIR], Remeron, ORG 3770) is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist endowed with antidepressant activity in humans. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of (+/-)-MIR and of its (-)enantiomer [(-)-MIR] on pre- and postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors and to characterize their putative modulation of 5-HT neurotransmission. (+/-)-MIR (25 micrograms/kg i.v.) enhanced the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of the ascending 5-HT pathway by blocking both alpha-2 adrenergic auto- and heteroreceptors. (-)-MIR (10 micrograms/kg i.v.) enhanced the effectiveness of these stimulations due to a selective action of (-)-MIR on the alpha-2 heteroreceptors located on 5-HT terminals. Both (+/-)- and (-)-MIR (500 micrograms/kg i.v.) blocked the suppressant effect of microiontophoretically applied norepinephrine (NE) on the firing activity of CA3 dorsal hippocampus pyramidal neurons, indicating their antagonistic effects on postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors. (+/-)-MIR (10- 250 micrograms/kg i.v.) enhanced dose-dependently the firing activity of the 5-HT neurons in naive rats, but not in 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated rats. (+/-)-MIR also significantly increased the firing activity of locus ceruleus NE neurons. In contrast, (-)-MIR (10-250 micrograms/kg i.v.) failed to change the firing rate of dorsal raphe 5-HT neurons. In conclusion, these results suggest that both (+/-)-MIR and (-)-MIR are antagonists at postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, that (+/-)-MIR is an antagonist of somatodendritic as well as terminal alpha-2 adrenergic auto- and heteroreceptors, whereas (-)-MIR is a selective antagonist at alpha-2 adrenergic heteroreceptors. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of (-)-MIR on locus ceruleus NE neurons appears to be mediated via 5-HT neurons because it is abolished by a 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine pretreatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddjeri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Montigny
mesh_terms: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008803:Mianserin; D012701:Serotonin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D009638:Norepinephrine