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Differential effects of chronic antidepressants in behavioural tests of β-adrenergic and GABAB receptor function

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Abstract

The effects of chronic administration of antidepressant drugs (28 days SC via Alzet 2ML4 osmotic minipumps) on the functional sensitivity of β-adrenergic and GABA receptors have been assessed. Phenelzine (10 mg/kg), tranylcypromine (1 mg/kg), imipramine (30 mg/kg) and desmethylimipramine (10 mg/kg) attenuated the motor-suppressant effects of salbutamol (3 mg/kg) observed at 21–22 days of drug administration. No changes in the motor-suppressant effects of the GABA prodrug progabide (50 mg/kg) or the GABAB agonist (±)-baclofen (5 mg/kg) were induced by these antidepressants. These findings extend and confirm previous reports of functional changes in β-adrenergic receptors but not of GABAB receptors following chronic antidepressant treatment.

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  1. Neurochemical Research Unit, and PMHAC Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, T6G 2B7, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    David J. McManus & Andrew J. Greenshaw

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  1. David J. McManus
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  2. Andrew J. Greenshaw
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McManus, D.J., Greenshaw, A.J. Differential effects of chronic antidepressants in behavioural tests of β-adrenergic and GABAB receptor function. Psychopharmacology 103, 204–208 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244204

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244204

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