The effect of chronic imipramine and electroconvulsive shock treatment on [3H]DADLE binding to cortical membranes of rats pretreated with chronic reserpine or 6-hydroxydopamine.

Repetitive electroconvulsive shock treatment (for 8 days) or chronic administration of imipramine (10 mg/kg/day IP for 14 or 21 days) elevated the density of opioid delta receptors in the cerebral cortex of the rat. Electroconvulsive shock treatment produced a similar effect in rats treated subchronically with reserpine or receiving intraventricularly 6-hydroxydopamine, but these manipulations of central catecholamines prevented the action of imipramine.