GABAergic effects of reserpine following chronic treatment

✍ Scribed by P. D. Suzdak; G. Gianutsos

• Book ID: 104771465
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 449 KB
• Volume: 87
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3158
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00431800

✦ Synopsis

Reserpine-induced depression has been used as an animal model to screen for antidepressant agents. Chronic (14-day) treatment with reserpine resulted in a significant increase in beta-adrenergic receptor binding in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, which was partially prevented by chronic treatment with either the antidepressant imipramine, the GABA-A agonist THIP or, the GABA-B agonist baclofen. Chronic treatment with reserpine also significantly increased 3H-GABA receptor binding, which was partially prevented by chronic treatment with either imipramine or THIP. Both subchronic and chronic administration of reserpine resulted in a decrease in GABA concentrations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These data demonstrate the effect of reserpine treatment on the GABA-ergic system, and add further support for a functional coupling between the noradrenergic and GABA-ergic systems, which may be important for the mechanism of action of antidepressant agents.