Mechanism of inhibitory effect of citalopram on isolated guinea-pig atria in relation to adenosine receptor.

The effect of citalopram (CTP), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant was studied on the rate and force of contractions of isolated guinea-pig atria. CTP (2-32 microg/ml) caused a dose-dependent decrease in the contractile force (7%-62%) and in the rate of contractions (11%-72%). These negative inotropic and chronotropic effects of CTP (8 microg/ml) were not prevented by atropine (1 microg/ml) and 3,7 dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX; 1.5 microg/ml), an adenosine A(2) receptor antagonist, but 1,3 dipropargyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX; 12 microg/ml), a specific adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist significantly blocked these effects (p < 0.001) and theophylline (30 microg/ml) a non-selective adenosine A(1)/A(2A) receptor antagonist also prevented the inotropic and chronotropic effects of CTP. These results suggest that the negative inotropic and chronotropic effect of CTP on isolated guinea-pig atria is probably mediated through an inhibition of the uptake of adenosine or the A(1) receptor mechanism. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.