Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors have antidepressant-like properties in mice. 2. Chronic treatment results in downregulation of cortical beta-adrenoceptors
by
Karolewicz B, Bruce KH, Lee B, Paul IA
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Mississippi Medical Center,
Jackson 39216-4505, USA.
bkarolewicz@psychiatry.umsmed.edu
Eur J Pharmacol 1999 May 21; 372(3):215-20

ABSTRACT

Down-regulation of cortical beta-adrenoceptors is observed in rodents following chronic treatment with many clinically effective antidepressant therapies. [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to cortical beta-adrenoceptors was examined in mice treated with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase antagonist N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). Administration of L-NNA (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) for 21 days produced a significant reduction (28%, 31%, respectively, P<0.05) in [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to cortical membranes without affecting Kd. Dose 1 mg/kg of L-NNA given chronically also produced a 20% decrease in beta-adrenoceptor density, but this effect was not statistically significant. While chronic treatment with imipramine (15 and 30 mg/kg) produced respectively a 30% and 25% (P<0.05) reduction in the density of [3H]dihydroalpenolol, single injection of either imipramine (15 and 30 mg/kg) or L-NNA (0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/kg) had no effect on [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that drugs which can affect the Ca2+ -calmodulin/nitric oxide synthase/guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway may represent a novel approach to the treatment of depression and are congruent with our previous observation, which has demonstrated the antidepressant-like properties of NO synthase inhibitors in the forced swim test.

SAMe
Arginase
Agmatine
Noradrenaline
Buprenorphine
Vagus stimulation
New antidepressants
Beta-adrenoreceptors
Substance P inhibitors
Nitric oxide in depression
Bupropion and nitric oxide
Dopamine, serotonin and sex
Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors
Selegiline, NO and Alzheimer's disease

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