[Comparison of the effects of the administration of fluoxetine and sertraline on the immune markers of the mu opioid receptor in the rat brain].
BACKGROUND
Chronic fluoxetine or imipramine administration in rats can generate a similar increase in the number of neural cells immunostained for mu opioid receptors in several prosencephalic regions.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present work was to describe the effects of chronic sertraline administration on mu opioid receptor immunostaining in several rat brain prosencephalic regions, in order to compare with previously described fluoxetine effects.


METHODS
Experimental animals were chronically administered with sertraline (i.p.). An immunocytochemical method, with the aid of a computerized image analysis system, was used in order to measure the number of neural cells immunostained for mu opioid receptors in several prosencephalic regions.


RESULTS
Although chronic sertraline administration in rats generates a significant increase in the number of neural cells immunostained for mu opioid receptors in the caudatus-putamen, dentate gyrus, lateral septum and the frontal, parietal and piriform cortices, slight regional differences, with respect to fluoxetine action, were found. Thus, a more marked action on parietal cortex and lateral septum, and a lesser action on the frontal cortex, were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional differences in sertraline effects, with respect to fluoxetine, could be related to a lesser incidence of psychomotor impairment.
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, España.
I
I
Acebes
E
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Echevarría
L C
LC
Abecia
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I
Barbero
J L
JL
Maza
L
L
Casis
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline