title: Repeated interferon-alpha administration inhibits dopaminergic neural activity in the mouse brain.
abstract: In vivo effects of single and repeated interferon-alpha administrations on the dynamics of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine were investigated in the mouse brain. Single interferon-alpha administration (15, 30 and 60 X 10(6) U/kg i.p.) had no significant effect on the levels of monoamines and their metabolites or monoamine turnover. When interferon-alpha (15 X 10(6) U/kg i.p.) was administered once a day for 5 days, however, both dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels were significantly decreased and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine-induced dopamine depletion was significantly suppressed. These results suggest that repeated interferon-alpha administration inhibits dopaminergic neural activity. This inhibitory action of interferon-alpha in dopamine neurons may be involved in adverse central effects, such as parkinsonism and depression with suicidal potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shuto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine