Differential effects of the antidepressants tranylcypromine and fluoxetine on limbic cannabinoid receptor binding and endocannabinoid contents. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2008 Dec;115(12):1673-9
Date
11/01/2008Pubmed ID
18974922Pubmed Central ID
PMC2992975DOI
10.1007/s00702-008-0131-7Scopus ID
2-s2.0-57049099128 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 65 CitationsAbstract
The goal of this study was to determine whether the endocannabinoid system is altered by chronic antidepressant treatment. The effects of 3-week administration of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) on cannabinoid CB(1) receptor densities and endocannabinoid contents were determined in limbic brain regions of the rat. Tranylcypromine significantly reduced tissue content of the endocannabinoid N-arachidonylethanolamine (anandamide) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus and increased 2-arachidonoylglycerol content in the prefrontal cortex. Tranylcypromine treatment significantly increased CB(1) receptor binding density in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, but not in the hypothalamus. Treatment with fluoxetine increased CB(1) receptor density in the prefrontal cortex, but had no effect on endocannabinoid contents in any brain region examined. These data suggest that monoaminergic neurotransmission can regulate the endocannabinoid system and further indicates a role of the endocannabinoid system in affective illness and its treatment.
Author List
Hill MN, Ho WS, Hillard CJ, Gorzalka BBAuthor
Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Associate Dean, Center Director, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsAntidepressive Agents
Arachidonic Acids
Binding, Competitive
Biogenic Monoamines
Brain
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
Depressive Disorder
Endocannabinoids
Fluoxetine
Glycerides
Ligands
Limbic System
Male
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
Synaptic Transmission
Tranylcypromine
Up-Regulation