Involvement of amygdaloid catecholaminergic mechanism in suppressive effects of desipramine and imipramine on duration of immobility in rats forced to swim.

The suppressive effect of systemic injection of desipramine and imipramine on the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim was inhibited by 6-hydroxydopamine given into the medial amygdaloid nucleus as a pretreatment. Pretreatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine given into the medial amygdaloid nucleus had no effect on the immobility-reducing effect of tricyclic antidepressants. The concentrations of catecholamines and serotonin in 6-hydroxydopamine- and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-pretreated rats, respectively, were significantly lower than those in the saline-injected rats. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of systemic injection of desipramine and imipramine on the duration of the immobility of rats forced to swim was mediated by the catecholaminergic but not the serotonergic mechanisms in the medial amygdaloid nucleus.