Chronic fluoxetine or desmethylimipramine treatment alters 5-HT2 receptor mediated c-fos gene expression

Eur J Pharmacol. 1995 Aug 15;290(3):263-6. doi: 10.1016/0922-4106(95)90003-9.

Abstract

These studies examined the effects of a 21-day treatment regime with either the tricyclic antidepressant, desmethylimipramine (DMI), or the selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, on 5-HT2 receptors in rat brain, as assessed by selective agonist-mediated c-fos gene expression. Chronic, but not acute, treatment with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p. for 21 days) resulted in supersensitization of the response to an acute challenge (4 mg/kg, i.p.) with the selective 5-HT2 agonist, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), both in frontal cortex and in hippocampus. Chronic treatment with DMI (10 mg/kg, i.p. for 21 days) resulted in a significant desensitization of the response to DOI. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible modes of action of these two clinically useful agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamines / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / pharmacology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Desipramine / pharmacology*
  • Fluoxetine / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects*
  • Genes, fos / drug effects*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Ketanserin / pharmacology
  • Male
  • RNA / biosynthesis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Serotonin Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine
  • RNA
  • Ketanserin
  • 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine
  • Desipramine