title: Attenuation of the effects of fluoxetine on serotonergic neuronal activity by pindolol in rats.
abstract: Based on its proposed ability to block the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the firing rate of serotonergic neurons, the 5-HT1A partial agonist/beta-adrenergic antagonist pindolol has been examined in clinical trials for its ability to enhance the efficacy of SSRIs. However, varying results have been obtained in these clinical trials. To explore this issue, we examined the effects of pindolol alone and in combination with fluoxetine on the electrophysiological activity of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of anesthetized rats. Administration of pindolol (1, 5, and 20 mg/kg, s.c.) alone decreased the number of spontaneously active serotonergic neurons. Administration of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) alone also decreased the number of spontaneously active serotonergic neurons. However, when administered following fluoxetine, pindolol significantly attenuated, but did not block completely, the inhibitory effects of fluoxetine on the number of spontaneously active serotonergic neurons. These results indicate that pindolol can attenuate the effects of fluoxetine on the firing of serotonergic neurons. These results may help explain the varying efficacy of pindolol in clinical trials with SSRIs.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Centre, Eli Lilly & Co., Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6PH, UK. rasmussen_kurt@lilly.com
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McCreary
authors.forename: Elaine A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shanks
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010869:Pindolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011149:Pons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005473:Fluoxetine; D010869:Pindolol; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors