Differential actions of mianserin and iprindole on the sensitivity of cortical neurons to noradrenaline: effect of chronic treatment.

The sensitivity of cingulate cortical neurons to microiontophoretically administered noradrenaline (NA) was compared in groups of rats treated with one or other of the two antidepressants mianserin (30 mg/kg s.c.) or iprindole (10 mg/kg i.p.) either acutely or chronically, for 10 and 28 days respectively. In the rats treated chronically with mianserin, the neurons were significantly less sensitive to NA than those of the acutely treated animals. By contrast, chronic administration of iprindole did not significantly affect neuronal sensitivity to NA.