Differential effects of citalopram and reboxetine on cortical Glx measured with proton MR spectroscopy

• Published in: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford) 2008-07, Vol.22 (5), p.473-476
• Main Authors: Taylor, M., Murphy, SE, Selvaraj, S., Wylezinkska, M., Jezzard, P., Cowen, PJ, Evans, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Adult; Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Citalopram; Citalopram - pharmacology; Dosage and administration; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glutamate; Glutamic Acid - drug effects; Glutamic Acid - metabolism; Glutamine; Glutamine - drug effects; Glutamine - metabolism; Humans; Inhibitor drugs; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Male; Measurement; Medical sciences; Morpholines - pharmacology; Neurons; Neuropharmacology; Neurotransmitters; Occipital Lobe - drug effects; Occipital Lobe - metabolism; Pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physiological aspects; Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Reboxetine; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Side effects; Spectrum analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-8811; 1461-7285
• DOI: 10.1177/0269881107081510

The pharmacological effects of monoamine potentiating antidepressants are likely to be expressed ultimately on cortical pyramidal neurones that use glutamate as a neurotransmitter. However, there are few data on the effects of antidepressant treatment on cortical glutamate levels in humans. The aim of the present study was to use proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the effects of short-term administration of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, citalopram and the selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, reboxetine, on a composite measure of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) in occipital cortex in healthy volunteers using a parallel group, placebo-controlled design. We found that relative both to placebo and reboxetine, seven days treatment with citalopram significantly increased cortical Glx. Our data suggest that short-term treatment with citalopram, but not reboxetine, increases occipital Glx in healthy subjects. Further studies are needed to find out if similar effects occur in anterior brain regions and whether they reflect changes in glutamate or glutamine or both.