title: Evidence for accelerated desensitisation of 5-HT(2C) receptors following combined treatment with fluoxetine and the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, WAY 100,635, in the rat.
abstract: Both pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that additional treatment with 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonists may accelerate the antidepressant efficacy/onset of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Given that chronic SSRI treatment has been shown to desensitise 5-HT(2C) receptor mediated responses, we have used the rat social interaction test to determine if combined treatment with WAY 100,635, a selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, will accelerate this effect. In pairs of unfamiliar rats, acute administration of the 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) or fluoxetine decreased the time spent in social interaction, responses which were reversed by the 5-HT(2C/2B) receptor antagonists SB 200646A and SB 221284. Similar reductions in social interaction were observed in rats treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p. daily) for 4, 7 and 14 days but was no longer apparent after 28 days of treatment. In contrast, only 7 days of combined treatment with WAY 100,635 (1 mg/kg/s.c./day) and fluoxetine were needed to reverse this response. The decrease in social interaction induced by an acute challenge of mCPP (1 mg/kg, i. p.) was also reduced after 6 days co-treatment with WAY 100,635 and fluoxetine. Thus, WAY 100,635 accelerates SSRI-induced desensitisation of 5-HT(2C) receptors, suggesting that this response might contribute towards the therapeutic effects of SSRIs in man.
authors.affiliation: Merck, Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Eastwick Road, Harlow, Essex, UK. linda_bristow@merck.com
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Duxon
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hutson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D007211:Indoles; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014508:Urea; C112099:SB 221284; C080864:N-(1-methyl-5-indolyl)-N'-(3-pyridyl)urea; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine