Acute administration of amitriptyline and mianserin increases dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens: possible involvement of serotonin2C receptors.
Previous studies of conventional tricyclic and non-tricyclic antidepressants have suggested that a number of these drugs display considerable pharmacological activity at 5-HT2C receptors in the brain. There is evidence that 5-HT2C receptors are involved in the control of the activity of the central dopaminergic system. Therefore, the effects of amitriptyline (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg i.p.) and of the atypical antidepressant mianserin (2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg i.p.) were studied on the extracellular concentration of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens of chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats, using intracerebral microdialysis. Amitriptyline and mianserin significantly increased DA release (+31.1 +/- 7.9% and +33.6 +/- 4.3%, respectively) at the higher doses. In addition, lower doses of mianserin (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) and amitriptyline (5 mg/kg i.p.) blocked the inhibitory action of RO 60-0175 (1 mg/kg i.p.), a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist, on DA release. The effect of RO 60-0175 (1 mg/kg i.p.) was completely blocked by SB 242084 (2.5 mg/kg i.p.), a selective and powerful 5-HT2C receptor antagonist. Taken together, these data indicate that amitriptyline and mianserin increase DA release in the nucleus accumbens by blocking 5-HT2C receptors.
Di Matteo
V
V
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Chieti, Italy.
Di Mascio
M
M
Di Giovanni
G
G
Esposito
E
E
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005021:Ethylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D005021:Ethylamines; D007211:Indoles; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C103848:Ro 60-0175; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D000639:Amitriptyline; D008803:Mianserin; D004298:Dopamine