Effects of desipramine and maprotiline on the coeruleus-cortical noradrenergic system in anaesthetized rats.
Desipramine (1-3000 micrograms/kg i.v.) and maprotiline (1-10,000 micrograms/kg i.v.), two selective noradrenaline uptake blockers, inhibited the firing rate of noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons and induced excitation of the prefronto-cortical neurons. The selective destruction of ascending noradrenergic pathways by intracerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine antagonized the excitatory effect of desipramine and maprotiline on the prefronto-cortical neurons. These results suggest that desipramine and maprotiline dose dependently stimulate the electrical activity of prefronto-cortical neurons, probably by acting on noradrenergic cells of the locus coeruleus.
Boehringer Ingelheim Italia, S.p.A. Milan, Italy.
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Ceci
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Borsini
D000818:Animals; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D008376:Maprotiline; D016627:Oxidopamine; D003891:Desipramine; D009638:Norepinephrine