title: Clozapine-induced Fos-protein expression in rat forebrain regions: differential effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone supplement.
abstract: Unlike classical antipsychotic drugs, clozapine activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and induces a specific regional pattern of Fos-protein expression in the rat forebrain. Whether corticosterone plays a role in the clozapine-induced Fos response is the subject of this study. Some rats were adrenalectomized and in a number, including intact animals, a corticosterone pellet (100 mg s.c.) was implanted; after 1 week, a single dose of clozapine (20 mg kg(-1) i.p.) was administered. The clozapine-induced Fos response was not affected by adrenalectomy, apart from the nucleus accumbens shell, the subfornical organ and the supraoptic nucleus; there was an increased response in the nucleus accumbens shell, while other regions showed less Fos immunoreactivity. Implantation of the corticosterone pellet in both sham-operated and adrenalectomized animals, reduced the clozapine-induced Fos responses strongly in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the subfornical organ and possibly in the prefrontal cortex; in the supraoptic nucleus, this effect was seen only in intact animals. The effect of clozapine on plasma corticosterone levels was also diminished by supplemental corticosterone treatment. These results imply that the effects of clozapine are partially dependent upon hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis integrity and activation. The efficacy of clozapine in the treatment of polydipsia and hyponatremia in chronic psychiatric patients may involve clozapine-mediated activation of the cellular activity in the subfornical organ.
authors: Department of Biological Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Clinic, P.O. Box 30.001, Hanzeplein 1, NL 9700 RB, Groningen, Netherlands.
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Sebens
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Middelveld
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Koch
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Ter Horst
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Korf
mesh_terms: D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D003024:Clozapine; D003345:Corticosterone