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Prevention of the serotonin syndrome in rats by repeated administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors but not tricyclic antidepressants

Psychopharmacology volume 77, pages 205–211 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

The serotonin syndrome, a behavioral response produced by the activation of serotonin receptors, and 3H-serotonin binding were examined after repeated treatment of rats with different types of antidepressant drugs. The serotonin syndrome was produced by the direct-acting serotonin receptor agonists 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeDMT) or d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Repeated, but not acute treatment of rats with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (nialamide, pargyline, and phenelzine) prevented the serotonin syndrome in response to either 5-MeDMT or LSD and also reduced 3H-serotonin binding in the brain stem and spinal cord. Pretreatment of rats with p-chlorophenylalanine blocked the ability of nialamide treatment to inhibit the serotonin syndrome caused by 5-MeDMT. By contrast, neither the serotonin syndrome or 3H-serotonin binding was affected significantly by the repeated administration of tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, desmethyl-imipramine, and chlorimipramine) or iprindole. Repeated monoamine oxidase inhibitor treatments may prevent the serotonin syndrome by causing a reduction of 3H-serotonin receptor binding sites in the brain stem and/or spinal cord.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    I. Lucki & A. Frazer

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    I. Lucki & A. Frazer

Authors
  1. I. Lucki
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  2. A. Frazer
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Lucki, I., Frazer, A. Prevention of the serotonin syndrome in rats by repeated administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors but not tricyclic antidepressants. Psychopharmacology 77, 205–211 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00464567

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00464567

Key words

  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • 3H-serotonin binding
  • Depression