The effects of a single dose of amphetamine and iprindole on the serotonergic system of the rat brain.

Rats treated with iprindole (IPR) (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were given a single dose (15 mg/kg, i.p.) of amphetamine (AMP). Marked decreases in the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) were observed in both the cerebral cortex and neostriatum after 6 hr, with maximum depression observed at 24 hr. Enzyme activity had returned to control levels in neostriatum after 3 days and in cerebral cortex after 7 days. Levels of serotonin (5-HT) in both the cerebral cortex and neostriatum were significantly lowered at 24 hr but had recovered by 72 hr. Levels of tryptophan (TRP) in the cortex were significantly elevated after 6 hr, recovering by 24 hr. In the neostriatum, the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was significantly depressed by 24 hr and remained so for 7 days. Concentrations of dopamine (DA) were decreased at all times examined. This study clarifies the differences previously observed in the response of the serotonergic system to amphetamine or methamphetamine (METH) in iprindole-treated rats.