Abstract
The effects of four antidepressant compounds, amitriptyline (AMI), imipramine (IMI), desmethylimipramine (DMI) and viloxazine have been examined on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) of cats previously chronically pretreated with these compounds. In contrast to naive cats the control period of recording with all four agents was predominantly desynchronized with some spindle activity. The main action of all four compounds was to increase the frequency of occurrence of spindles. AMI and IMI induced some synchronized patterns but at doses far in excess of those which induced such activity in drug-naive animals. With DMI and viloxazine the main effects were spindle induction. It is suggested that this activity represents an increase in activity of the compounds on dopaminergic neurones and that this may represent a more important role for dopamine in the mode of action of antidepressant drugs. Furthermore after chronic dosing the importance of 5-hydroxytryptamine mechanisms in the mode of action of antidepressants appears to diminish.
Published Version
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