Comparison of trazodone, diazepame and dibenzepine influences on rat brain beta-endorphins content.

The aim of our study was to establish the extent of influence of different psychotropic drugs to brain Beta-endorphins in experimental animals. The study was performed on albino Wistar rats (weight 250 g), treated with different psychoactive drugs. RIA technique was employed for quantification of brain beta-endorphins. Brain beta-endorphins were higher in experiment group treated with trazodone (929 pg/g +/- 44,43; X+/-SD), and dibenzepine (906,63 pg/g +/- 74,06), yet with lower brain content in rats treated with diazepam (841,55 pg/g +/- 68,47), compared to brain beta-endorphins content of control group treated with saline solution (0,95% NaCl) (873,5 pg/g +/- 44,89). Significant differences were obtained comparing brain beta-endorphins of trazodone vs. diazepam treated animals, with diazepam group having lower values (p<0,02). This study showed differences in changes of rat brain beta-endorphins contents when different psychoactive drugs are used. Therefore, we consider that beta-endorphins could be used for evaluation of effects of psychoactive drugs, as a useful parameter in therapy with these psycho-pharmaceuticals.