Rapid decrease in rat brain beta adrenergic receptor binding during combined antidepressant alpha-2 antagonist treatment. 1983

J A Scott, and F T Crews

The delay in onset of the therapeutic effect of antidepressants is believed to be due to a progressive decrease in the density of central beta adrenergic receptors. The changes in beta adrenergic receptor density could result from an increase in the synaptic concentration of norepinephrine, which is secondary to a decrease in the sensitivity of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor which normally inhibits release and the firing of the locus ceruleus. We have observed an acceleration of beta receptor desensitization with combined administration of antidepressants and alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists. After one day of administration of desipramine (DMI) with phenoxybenzamine, there was a marked decrease in beta adrenergic receptor density. One day of treatment with DMI alone had no significant effect on beta receptor density. Rapid desensitization occurs not only in rat limbic cortex, but also in hippocampus and mesencephalon. Furthermore, combination therapy of DMI with yohimbine or dihydroergotamine, both alpha-2 adrenergic blockers, is similar to DMI-phenoxybenzamine treatment. Combined administration with prazosin, an alpha-1 antagonist, had no effect on antidepressant-induced desensitization. Combined administration of alpha-2 antagonists accelerated beta receptor desensitization by amitriptyline, mianserin, iprindole, tranylcypromine and pargyline. These observations suggest that pharmacological blockade of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors enhances antidepressant-induced decreases in central nervous system beta-adrenergic receptor density.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008636 Mesencephalon The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems. Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D008996 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors A chemically heterogeneous group of drugs that have in common the ability to block oxidative deamination of naturally occurring monoamines. (From Gilman, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p414) MAO Inhibitor,MAO Inhibitors,Reversible Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase,Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor,RIMA (Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase A),Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitor, MAO,Inhibitor, Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitors, MAO,Inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase
D010643 Phenoxybenzamine An alpha-adrenergic antagonist with long duration of action. It has been used to treat hypertension and as a peripheral vasodilator. Dibenylene,Dibenyline,Dibenziran,Dibenzylin,Dibenzyline,Dibenzyran,Phenoxybenzamine Hydrochloride,Hydrochloride, Phenoxybenzamine
D011919 Rats, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding. August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D011941 Receptors, Adrenergic Cell-surface proteins that bind epinephrine and/or norepinephrine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes. The two major classes of adrenergic receptors, alpha and beta, were originally discriminated based on their cellular actions but now are distinguished by their relative affinity for characteristic synthetic ligands. Adrenergic receptors may also be classified according to the subtypes of G-proteins with which they bind; this scheme does not respect the alpha-beta distinction. Adrenergic Receptors,Adrenoceptor,Adrenoceptors,Norepinephrine Receptor,Receptors, Epinephrine,Receptors, Norepinephrine,Adrenergic Receptor,Epinephrine Receptors,Norepinephrine Receptors,Receptor, Adrenergic,Receptor, Norepinephrine
D011943 Receptors, Adrenergic, beta One of two major pharmacologically defined classes of adrenergic receptors. The beta adrenergic receptors play an important role in regulating CARDIAC MUSCLE contraction, SMOOTH MUSCLE relaxation, and GLYCOGENOLYSIS. Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Adrenergic beta-Receptors,Receptors, beta-Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Receptor,beta-Adrenergic Receptor,beta-Adrenergic Receptors,Receptor, Adrenergic, beta,Adrenergic Receptor, beta,Adrenergic beta Receptor,Adrenergic beta Receptors,Receptor, beta Adrenergic,Receptor, beta-Adrenergic,Receptors, beta Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Receptors,beta-Receptor, Adrenergic,beta-Receptors, Adrenergic
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D002531 Cerebellum The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills. Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D002540 Cerebral Cortex The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical

Related Publications

J A Scott, and F T Crews
January 1985, Acta pharmacologica et toxicologica,
J A Scott, and F T Crews
February 1993, Anesthesia and analgesia,
J A Scott, and F T Crews
August 1976, Brain research,
J A Scott, and F T Crews
January 1979, Life sciences,
J A Scott, and F T Crews
June 1996, Molecular pharmacology,
J A Scott, and F T Crews
August 1991, Yakubutsu, seishin, kodo = Japanese journal of psychopharmacology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!