title: Inhibition of 5-HT cell firing in the DRN by non-selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors: studies on the role of 5-HT1A autoreceptors and noradrenergic mechanisms.
abstract: Improved clinical antidepressant efficacy may result if the acute inhibition of 5-HT cell firing induced by antidepressants is prevented. Here we examined whether inhibition of 5-HT cell firing by non-selective 5-HT uptake inhibiting antidepressant drugs is reversed by a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. In addition, we examined whether concomitant blockade of NA uptake offsets the inhibition of 5-HT cell firing resulting from 5-HT uptake blockade. Antidepressants which block 5-HT uptake (paroxetine, clomipramine, amitriptyline, venlafaxine), all caused dose-dependent and complete inhibition of 5-HT cell firing. Desipramine, a selective NA uptake blocker, caused a slight reduction in firing. The selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY 100635, reversed the inhibition of 5-HT cell firing induced by clomipramine, amitriptyline, venlafaxine, and paroxetine, but not that induced by the alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin. Desipramine, at a dose which increased extracellular NA in the DRN, reversed the effect of prazosin but did not alter the ability of paroxetine to inhibit 5-HT cell firing. Our data indicate that antidepressant drugs with 5-HT uptake blocking properties inhibit 5-HT cell firing via activation of 5-HT1A autoreceptors, and do so irrespective of their effects on NA uptake. These data are discussed in relation to the application of 5-HT1A receptor antagonists to enhance the clinical efficacy of antidepressant drugs.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Radcliffe Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gartside
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Umbers
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D000639:Amitriptyline; D002997:Clomipramine; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017374:Paroxetine; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide