Partial Glucocorticoid Agonist-Like Effects of Imipramine on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Activity, Thymus Weight, and Hippocampal Glucocorticoid Receptors in Male C57BL/6 Mice (original) (raw)

Abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity may provide clues to the neurochemistry of depression. Psychotic depression has one of the highest rates of elevated HPA activity and is most often responsive to the tricyclic class of antidepressants. Because successful treatment resolves HPA as well as psychiatric symptoms, we hypothesized, in light of evidence that tricyclic antidepressants can affect glucocorticoid receptor function, that these drugs would mimic glucocorticoid feedback inhibition of HPA activity. To test this hypothesis, we measured circadian nadir (morning) and peak (evening) as well as restraint stress-induced levels of plasma ACTH and corticosterone in adrenalectomized (ADX) and sham-ADX (Sham) male C57BL/6 mice after 8 wk of imipramine (20 mg/kg/d, ip) or saline treatment. Antidepressant efficacy was confirmed by decreased immobility in forcedswim testing. When glucocorticoids were low or absent, imip

Sign up for access to the world's latest research.

checkGet notified about relevant papers

checkSave papers to use in your research

checkJoin the discussion with peers

checkTrack your impact