title: A comparison of the effects on central 5-HT function of sibutramine hydrochloride and other weight-modifying agents.
abstract: 1. Effects on 5-HT function of sibutramine and its active metabolites, BTS 54 354 and BTS 54 505, were compared with fluoxetine, (+)-fenfluramine and (+)-amphetamine. 2. In vitro sibutramine weakly inhibited [3H]-5-HT uptake into brain synaptosomes. BTS 54 354, BTS 54 505 and fluoxetine were powerful [3H]-5-HT uptake inhibitors, whereas (+)-fenfluramine and (+)-amphetamine were very much weaker. Conversely, whilst sibutramine, its metabolites and fluoxetine did not release [3H]-5-HT from brain slices at < or = 10(-5)M, (+)-fenfluramine and (+)-amphetamine concentration-dependently increased [3H]-5-HT release. 3. Sibutramine and fluoxetine had no effect on 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) accumulation in either frontal cortex or hypothalamus at doses < 10 mg kg(-1). In contrast, (+)-amphetamine ( > or = 3 mg kg(-1)) reduced 5-HTP in hypothalamus, whilst (+)-fenfluramine (> or =1 mg kg(-1)) decreased 5-HTP in both regions. 4. Sibutramine (10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and fluoxetine (10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) produced slow, prolonged increases of extracellular 5-HT in the anterior hypothalamus. In contrast, (+)-fenfluramine (3 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and (+)-amphetamine (4 mg kg(-1) i.p.) induced rapid, short-lasting increases in extracellular 5-HT. 5. Only (+)-fenfluramine (10 mg kg(-1)) altered 5-HT2A receptors in rat frontal cortex when given for 14 days, producing a 61% reduction in receptor number and a 18% decrease in radioligand affinity. 6. These results show that sibutramine powerfully enhances central 5-HT function via its secondary and primary amine metabolites; this effect, like that of fluoxetine, is almost certainly mediated through 5-HT uptake inhibition. By contrast, (+)-fenfluramine enhances 5-HT function predominantly by increasing 5-HT release. (+)-Amphetamine, though weaker than (+)-fenfluramine, also enhances 5-HT function by release.
authors.affiliation: Knoll Pharmaceuticals Research & Development, Nottingham.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cheetham
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prow
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Buckett
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D014316:Tritium; D012701:Serotonin; C087851:BTS 54 505; C058254:sibutramine