Effects of chronically administered antidepressants and electroconvulsive treatment on cerebral neurotransmitter receptors in rodents with 'model depression'.

The aim of this study was to develop a model of depression in laboratory animals in which chronically administered antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) would produce receptor effects similar to but more marked than those in normal animals. The models discussed in detail are reserpinized and centrally chemosympathectomized rats. Other models currently under investigation are albino Swiss mice that respond with motor inhibition to high doses of morphine and rats tolerant to morphine. The reserpine model seems to be of some value, because in reserpinized rats antidepressants and ECT lead to adrenoceptor changes the same as or more marked than those observed in normal animals. Central chemosympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine prevents several receptor actions of imipramine, though not of ECT. The 'opiate models', though apparently not very promising, need further study.