Unaltered 5-HT- and desipramine-sensitive [3H]imipramine binding and [3H]5-HT uptake in rat brain after chronic imipramine and norzimeldine treatment.

Several reports have shown heterogeneity of [3H]imipramine binding to brain membranes. Recently, a high affinity and 5-HT sensitive [3H]imipramine binding site of protein nature, that was suggested to be identical to the substrate recognition site for 5-HT uptake, was demonstrated. Since most studies on the regulation of the [3H]imipramine binding sites by antidepressants have used desipramine displaceable binding, which is heterogenous in nature and contains binding not related to 5-HT uptake sites, the present report studies the possible effects of chronic (3 weeks) administration of imipramine or norzimeldine (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally twice daily) on 5-HT sensitive [3H]imipramine binding sites. For comparison, desipramine sensitive binding was also studied, as well as the physiological correlate 5-HT uptake. There were no changes in either [3H]imipramine binding or 5-HT uptake after the antidepressant treatment.