Effect of imipramine on
enkephalin-degrading peptidases
by
de Gandarias JM, Irazusta J,
Varona A, Gil J, Fernandez D, Casis L
Physiology Department,
Medical School,
University of the Basque Country,
Bilbao, Spain.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 1999 Dec; 9(6):493-9

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there has been increasing evidence of the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mental depression and its treatment. In this work, we have measured the effect of imipramine on enkephalin-degrading peptidases in several rat brain areas. Aminopeptidase activities have been assayed using Tyr-beta-naphthylamide as substrate and puromycin as selective inhibitor. Dansyl-D-Ala-Gly-Phe(pNO2)-Gly has been the substrate for neutral endopeptidase 24.11. Imipramine in vitro inhibits puromycin-sensitive activities in all brain areas studied, without affecting the rest of the enzymes assayed. However, subacute imipramine treatment increases neutral endopeptidase activity in the hypothalamus and chronic treatment increases this activity in the hypothalamus and the striatum. These results suggest to us that enkephalin-degrading peptidases are involved in the acute and chronic action mechanism of imipramine and reinforce the idea that the central enkephalinergic activity is dynamically changed during the treatment of depressive illness.

Options
Opioids
Morphine
Tramadol
Desipramine
Hyperalgesia
Buprenorphine
Enkephalinase
Antidepressants
Imipramine: structure
Opioids for depression?
Enkephalinase inhibitors
Selectivity or multiplicity?
Imipramine and depression
Imipramine: pharmacokinetics
Depression, opioids and the HPA
Imipramine versus medifoxamine
Imipramine and the delta opioid receptors
Imipramine and dopamine D2/D3 receptors

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family