The 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist robalzotan completely reverses citalopram-induced inhibition of serotonergic cell firing.
5-HT(1A) receptor antagonists have been suggested to increase the efficacy of selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of depression by enhancing the increase in brain 5-HT induced by 5-HT reuptake blockade. Here, the novel 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist robalzotan [(R)-3-N, N-dicyclobutylamino-8-fluoro-3, 4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-5-carboxamide hydrogen (2R, 3R) tartrate monohydrate] (12.5, 25, 50, 100 microg/kg, i.v.) was found to completely reverse the acute inhibitory effect of citalopram (300 microg/kg i.v.) or paroxetine (100 microg/kg, i.v.) on the activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus in rats. Robalzotan (5, 50 microg/kg, i.v.) by itself increased the firing rate of the majority of 5-HT cells studied. The present results suggest that robalzotan may indeed augment the increases in 5-HT output induced by selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors by antagonizing the feedback inhibition of 5-HT cell firing produced by such drugs. Thus, robalzotan may be effective by enhancing the action of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors or as monotherapy in the treatment of depression.
Arborelius
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Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
Wallsten
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Ahlenius
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Svensson
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TH
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001578:Benzopyrans; D015283:Citalopram; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; C108607:robalzotan