Guanosine triphosphate activation of brain adenylate cyclase: enhancement by long-term antidepressant treatment.

Activation of adenylate cyclase by a stable guanosine 5'-triphosphate analog was augmented in brain membrane preparations from rats treated on a long-term basis with tricyclic antidepressants or electroconvulsive shock. These treatments may facilitate cyclase activation by promoting the interaction of the regulatory and catalytic subunits of the enzyme. This finding suggests a possible mechanism for the changes in sensitivity to various neurotransmitters seen after antidepressant administration.