Link between the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems
Considerable attention has recently been focused on the interaction between serotonergic and beta-adrenergic receptors, which may be of particular relevance to our understanding of the therapeutic effect of antidepressants. Thus the chronic administration of antidepressants enhances the inhibitory response of forebrain neurons to micro-iontophoretically applied 5-HT. This enhanced response is blocked by lesions of the noradrenergic projections to the cortex. This dual effect could help to explain enhanced serotonergic function that arises after chronic administration of antidepressants or ECT. Conversely, impairment of serotonergic function by means of a selective neurotoxin (e.g. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine) or 5-HT synthesis inhibitor (e.g. parachlorophenylalanine) largely prevents the decrease in functional activity of cortical beta-adrenoceptors that usually arises following chronic antidepressant treatment. 5-HT1B receptors are located on serotonergic nerve terminals that act as autoreceptors, and, on stimul ation by serotonin, decrease the further release of this amine. It has been hypothesized that the chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram and fluvoxamine) slowly desensitize the inhibitory 5-HT1B receptors and thereby enhance serotonin release. In addition to the importance of the 5-HT1B autoreceptors in the regulation of serotonergic function, there is experimental and clinical evidence that the 5-HT1A receptors play a fundamental role in both anxiety and depression. In brief, the 5-HT1A somatodendritic receptors inhibit the release of serotonin and it is postulated that the enhanced release of the transmitter following the chronic administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is a consequence of the adaptive down-regulation of the inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors. The validity of this hypothesis is supported by the pharmacological effect of 5-HT1A antagonists. Thus the beta-adrenoceptors antagonist an 5-HT1A antagonist pindolol, in combination with fluoxetine or paroxetine, enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the SSRI and, in some studies, reduce the time of onset of the peak therapeutic effect. However, several investigators have not been able to replicate such findings.
Both clinical and experimental studies have provided evidence that 5-HT can also regulate dopamine turnover. Thus several investigators have shown that a positive correlation exists in depressed patients between the homovanillic acid (HVA), a major metabolite of dopamine, and 5-HIAA concentrations in the CSF. In experimental studies, stimulation of the 5-HT cell bodies in the median raphe´ causes reduced firing of the substantia nigra where dopamine is the main neurotransmitter. There is thus convincing evidence that 5-HT plays an important role in modulating dopaminergic function in many regions of the brain, including the mesolimbic system. Such findings imply that the effects of some antidepressants that show an apparent selectivity for the serotonergic system could be equally ascribed to a change in dopaminergic function in mesolimbic and mesocortical regions of the brain. It has been postulated that the hedonic effect of antidepressants may be ascribed to the enhanced dopaminergic function in the mesocor ex.
Mechanism of action of antidepressants: changes in serotonergic function
1. There is experimental evidence that the chronic administration of antidepressants or ECT enhances the inhibitory effect of micro-iontophoretically applied 5-HT.
This effect is blocked by lesions of the noradrenergic projections to the frontal cortex.
2. SSRIs after chronic administration down-regulate the inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors on the serotonergic cell body, thereby leading to an enhanced release of the transmitter from the nerve terminal.
3. 5-HT can also decrease dopamine release from the substantia nigra (an important dopaminergic nucleus). This may account for the observation that some SSRIs may cause dystonias and precipitate the symptoms of parkinsonism if given to such patients who are responding to L-dopa. Sertraline appears to differ from other SSRIs in this respect and may slightly enhance dopaminergic function by reducing the reuptake of this transmitter.
Considerable attention has recently been focused on the interaction between serotonergic and beta-adrenergic receptors, which may be of particular relevance to our understanding of the therapeutic effect of antidepressants. Thus the chronic administration of antidepressants enhances the inhibitory response of forebrain neurons to micro-iontophoretically applied 5-HT. This enhanced response is blocked by lesions of the noradrenergic projections to the cortex. This dual effect could help to explain enhanced serotonergic function that arises after chronic administration of antidepressants or ECT. Conversely, impairment of serotonergic function by means of a selective neurotoxin (e.g. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine) or 5-HT synthesis inhibitor (e.g. parachlorophenylalanine) largely prevents the decrease in functional activity of cortical beta-adrenoceptors that usually arises following chronic antidepressant treatment. 5-HT1B receptors are located on serotonergic nerve terminals that act as autoreceptors, and, on stimul ation by serotonin, decrease the further release of this amine. It has been hypothesized that the chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram and fluvoxamine) slowly desensitize the inhibitory 5-HT1B receptors and thereby enhance serotonin release. In addition to the importance of the 5-HT1B autoreceptors in the regulation of serotonergic function, there is experimental and clinical evidence that the 5-HT1A receptors play a fundamental role in both anxiety and depression. In brief, the 5-HT1A somatodendritic receptors inhibit the release of serotonin and it is postulated that the enhanced release of the transmitter following the chronic administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is a consequence of the adaptive down-regulation of the inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors. The validity of this hypothesis is supported by the pharmacological effect of 5-HT1A antagonists. Thus the beta-adrenoceptors antagonist an 5-HT1A antagonist pindolol, in combination with fluoxetine or paroxetine, enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the SSRI and, in some studies, reduce the time of onset of the peak therapeutic effect. However, several investigators have not been able to replicate such findings.
Both clinical and experimental studies have provided evidence that 5-HT can also regulate dopamine turnover. Thus several investigators have shown that a positive correlation exists in depressed patients between the homovanillic acid (HVA), a major metabolite of dopamine, and 5-HIAA concentrations in the CSF. In experimental studies, stimulation of the 5-HT cell bodies in the median raphe´ causes reduced firing of the substantia nigra where dopamine is the main neurotransmitter. There is thus convincing evidence that 5-HT plays an important role in modulating dopaminergic function in many regions of the brain, including the mesolimbic system. Such findings imply that the effects of some antidepressants that show an apparent selectivity for the serotonergic system could be equally ascribed to a change in dopaminergic function in mesolimbic and mesocortical regions of the brain. It has been postulated that the hedonic effect of antidepressants may be ascribed to the enhanced dopaminergic function in the mesocor ex.
Mechanism of action of antidepressants: changes in serotonergic function
1. There is experimental evidence that the chronic administration of antidepressants or ECT enhances the inhibitory effect of micro-iontophoretically applied 5-HT.
This effect is blocked by lesions of the noradrenergic projections to the frontal cortex.
2. SSRIs after chronic administration down-regulate the inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors on the serotonergic cell body, thereby leading to an enhanced release of the transmitter from the nerve terminal.
3. 5-HT can also decrease dopamine release from the substantia nigra (an important dopaminergic nucleus). This may account for the observation that some SSRIs may cause dystonias and precipitate the symptoms of parkinsonism if given to such patients who are responding to L-dopa. Sertraline appears to differ from other SSRIs in this respect and may slightly enhance dopaminergic function by reducing the reuptake of this transmitter.
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