Effect of chronic administration of antidepressant drugs on 5-HT2-mediated behavior in the rat following noradrenergic or serotonergic denervation.

Chronic (14 day) administration of several pharmacologically-distinct antidepressant drugs resulted in marked reductions in the serotonin2 (5-HT2)-mediated quipazine-induced head shake response which were accompanied by significant reductions in the density of cortical beta-adrenergic and 5-HT2 binding sites. Noradrenergic (DSP4[N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine]-induced) and serotonergic (5,7-DHT[5,7-dihydroxytryptamine]-induced) lesions either attenuated or blocked antidepressant-induced reductions in 5-HT2-mediated behavior. DSP4- and 5,7-DHT lesions did not alter the down-regulation of 5-HT2 binding sites produced by imipramine, desipramine, phenelzine or iprindole. To a large extent, the antagonism of antidepressant-induced reductions in 5-HT2-mediated behavior was coincident with the blockade of down-regulation of beta-adrenergic binding sites by both noradrenergic and serotonergic denervation. The functional interrelationship of 5-HT2 and beta-adrenergic receptors suggested by the present findings may provide insight into a common mechanism underlying the action of pharmacologically-distinct antidepressant drugs.