Effect of prolonged 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake inhibition by paroxetine on cortical beta 1 and beta 2-adrenoceptors in rat brain.

The effects of prolonged (21 day) oral administration of the antidepressants paroxetine (0.9 to 8.9 mg/kg/day) and amitriptyline (2.7 to 27 mg/kg/day), on rat brain cortical beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor numbers and affinities were investigated using [3H]-CGP 12177. Although amitriptyline, 27 mg/kg, caused a significant (p less than 0.05) 20% reduction in the number of beta 1-adrenoceptors, paroxetine, at doses up to 8.9 mg/kg p.o., did not influence binding of [3H]-CGP 12177 to cortical beta 1- or beta 2-adrenoceptors. This study with paroxetine provides further evidence that the down-regulation of central beta 1-adrenoceptors in rat brain after repeated administration is not a property of all antidepressant drugs.