Chronic imipramine, l-sulpiride and mianserin decrease corticotropin releasing factor levels in the rat brain

Among clinically effective antidepressant drugs, the action mechanism of mianserin has recently been related to variations in corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) levels in the rat locus coeruleus. We describe a specific effect on CRF levels after chronic treatment with different antidepressants: mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 1995-06, Vol.192 (2), p.121-123
Main Authors: Fadda, Paola, Pani, Luca, Porcella, Anna, Fratta, Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antidepressant drugs
Brain - metabolism
Corticotropin releasing factor
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - antagonists & inhibitors
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Depression
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus - metabolism
Imipramine - pharmacology
Male
Mianserin
Mianserin - pharmacology
Nucleus Accumbens - metabolism
Olfactory Bulb - metabolism
Osmolar Concentration
Rat
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Septum Pellucidum - metabolism
Sulpiride - pharmacology
Time Factors
Tissue Distribution
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Summary:Among clinically effective antidepressant drugs, the action mechanism of mianserin has recently been related to variations in corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) levels in the rat locus coeruleus. We describe a specific effect on CRF levels after chronic treatment with different antidepressants: mianserin (10 mg/kg), imipramine (20 mg/kg), both for 21 days, or l-sulpiride (1 mg/kg) for 15 days. While all antidepressants used greatly decreased CRF concentratrions in the hypothalamus, only mianserin decreased CRF concentrations by 40% in extrahypothalamic sites. Acute treatments failed to modify CRF levels. Chronic treatment with mianserin did not affect CRF density either in the hypothalamus or the extrahypothalamic areas. This new finding may add another facet to the therapeutic action of certain antidepressants and in particular to the atypical profile of mianserin.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/0304-3940(95)11612-Z