Biomaterial Database

Following long-term training with citalopram, both mirtazapine and mianserin block its discriminative stimulus properties in rats. 2001

A Dekeyne, and L Iob, and M J Millan

Institut de Recherches Servier, Centre de Recherches de Croissy, Psychopharmacology Department, Croissy-sur-Seine, Paris, France. anne.dekeyne@fr.netgrs.com

BACKGROUND The discriminative stimulus (DS) properties of the selective serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibitor (SSRI), citalopram, are mediated by 5-HT2C receptors. Interestingly, the "atypical" antidepressants, mianserin and mirtazapine, behave as antagonists at 5-HT2C receptors. OBJECTIVE Herein, we evaluated the influence of mianserin and mirtazapine upon the DS effects of citalopram. METHODS In a two-lever drug discrimination procedure, rats initially trained to discriminate citalopram (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) from saline were retrained with a lower dose of citalopram (0.63 mg/kg, i.p.). Subsequently, generalization and antagonist studies were conducted with mianserin and mirtazapine. RESULTS Both dose-dependently blocked, but did not generalize to, the DS properties of citalopram without markedly disrupting response rates. Their effective dose50s were 0.1 and 1.4 mg/kg, s.c., respectively. CONCLUSIONS These observations are consistent with a role of 5-HT2C receptors in mediation of the interoceptive properties of SSRIs and suggest that the DS effects of citalopram are not related to its "antidepressant" properties per se. Finally, they underline the distinctive nature of mirtazapine and mianserin as compared to antidepressant agents which interact with 5-HT uptake sites.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008803	Mianserin	A tetracyclic compound with antidepressant effects. It may cause drowsiness and hematological problems. Its mechanism of therapeutic action is not well understood, although it apparently blocks alpha-adrenergic, histamine H1, and some types of serotonin receptors.	Lerivon,Mianserin Hydrochloride,Mianserin Monohydrochloride,Org GB 94,Tolvon,Hydrochloride, Mianserin,Monohydrochloride, Mianserin
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D011985	Receptors, Serotonin	Cell-surface proteins that bind SEROTONIN and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behavior of cells. Several types of serotonin receptors have been recognized which differ in their pharmacology, molecular biology, and mode of action.	5-HT Receptor,5-HT Receptors,5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor,5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptors,Receptors, Tryptamine,Serotonin Receptor,Serotonin Receptors,Tryptamine Receptor,Tryptamine Receptors,Receptors, 5-HT,Receptors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,5 HT Receptor,5 HT Receptors,5 Hydroxytryptamine Receptor,5 Hydroxytryptamine Receptors,Receptor, 5-HT,Receptor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Receptor, Serotonin,Receptor, Tryptamine,Receptors, 5 HT,Receptors, 5 Hydroxytryptamine
D004193	Discrimination Learning	Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli.	Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D000078785	Mirtazapine	A piperazinoazepine tetracyclic compound that enhances the release of NOREPINEPHRINE and SEROTONIN through blockage of presynaptic ALPHA-2 ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS. It also blocks both 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 serotonin receptors and is a potent HISTAMINE H1 RECEPTOR antagonist. It is used for the treatment of depression, and may also be useful for the treatment of anxiety disorders.	(N-Methyl-11C)mirtazapine,(S)-Mirtazapine,6-Azamianserin,Esmirtazapine,Norset,ORG 3770,ORG-3770,Org 50081,Remergil,Remeron,Rexer,Zispin,6 Azamianserin,ORG3770
D000317	Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists	Drugs that bind to but do not activate alpha-adrenergic receptors thereby blocking the actions of endogenous or exogenous adrenergic agonists. Adrenergic alpha-antagonists are used in the treatment of hypertension, vasospasm, peripheral vascular disease, shock, and pheochromocytoma.	Adrenergic alpha-Receptor Blockaders,alpha-Adrenergic Blocking Agents,alpha-Adrenergic Receptor Blockaders,alpha-Blockers, Adrenergic,Adrenergic alpha-Blockers,alpha-Adrenergic Antagonists,alpha-Adrenergic Blockers,Adrenergic alpha Antagonists,Adrenergic alpha Blockers,Adrenergic alpha Receptor Blockaders,Agents, alpha-Adrenergic Blocking,Antagonists, alpha-Adrenergic,Blockaders, Adrenergic alpha-Receptor,Blockaders, alpha-Adrenergic Receptor,Blockers, alpha-Adrenergic,Blocking Agents, alpha-Adrenergic,Receptor Blockaders, alpha-Adrenergic,alpha Adrenergic Antagonists,alpha Adrenergic Blockers,alpha Adrenergic Blocking Agents,alpha Adrenergic Receptor Blockaders,alpha Blockers, Adrenergic,alpha-Antagonists, Adrenergic,alpha-Receptor Blockaders, Adrenergic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015283	Citalopram	A furancarbonitrile that is one of the SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS used as an antidepressant. The drug is also effective in reducing ethanol uptake in alcoholics and is used in depressed patients who also suffer from TARDIVE DYSKINESIA in preference to tricyclic antidepressants, which aggravate dyskinesia.	Celexa,Citalopram Hydrobromide,Cytalopram,Lu-10-171,Seropram,Lu10171
D017208	Rats, Wistar	A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain.	Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats