Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology · 1979 · 53 citations · 0 references
MedicineNeurosciencePharmacologyNeurochemistryNeuropharmacologyPsychopharmacologyAntidepressant PharmacologyAntidepressant PharmacotherapyAntidepressant TherapyDepression PharmacotherapyMonoamine NeurochemistryNeurochemical PharmacologyAntidepressant MedicationsCentral Nervous System PharmacodynamicsMechanisms Of Antidepressant ActionMonoamine PharmacologyNoradrenergic ModulationNoradrenergic NeurotransmissionPharmacodynamic MechanismsRodent Neuropharmacology
The effects of some antidepressants on brain total 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were studied in the rat. Desipramine decreased and mianserine increased the brain total MHPG concentration while the other antidepressants had no effect. They were also the only antidepressants that attenuated the lowering action of clonidine on brain total MHPG, but possibly through different mechanisms. Two tertiary amine tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline and imipramine, appeared to enhance the lowering action of clonidine on brain total MHPG. The results suggest that antidepressants are heterogeneous in their action on brain noradrenergic mechanisms in the rat.