EFFECTS OF IMIPRAMINE AND DESIPRAMINE ON RESPONSES OF SINGLE CORTICAL NEURONES TO NORADRENALINE AND 5‐HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE

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Abstract
1 The technique of microelectrophoresis was used in order to study the effects of imipramine and desipramine on single neurones in the somatosensory cortex of the cat, anaesthetized with halothane. 2 Imipramine and desipramine, when applied for a brief period, did not affect the firing rate of the vast majority of the neurones tested. 3 Both potentiation and antagonism of excitatory responses to noradrenaline could be observed after a brief application of either of the antidepressants. Four drug-interaction patterns could be distinguished: potentiation of immediate onset; potentiation reaching its maximum after a delay; antagonism followed by potentiation; antagonism followed by recovery. 4 When different doses of the same antidepressant were applied, it was found that the drug-interaction patterns were related to the dose of antidepressant applied, a lower dose causing potentiation, and a higher dose antagonism of the response. 5 Both potentiation and antagonism of depressant responses to noradrenaline could be observed. 6 Both excitatory and depressant responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine were modified by imipramine and desipramine: a smaller dose of the antidepressant potentiated, and a higher dose antagonized the responses. 7 Excitatory responses to glutamate were not affected by imipramine and desipramine.