Evidence that chronic administration of paroxetine or fluoxetine enhances 5-HT2 receptor function in the brain of the guinea pig.

The effects of chronic treatment with antidepressants on 5-HT-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphoinositide (PI) in the cerebral cortex of the guinea pig were examined. The pharmacological profile of the response was consistent with it being mediated by a 5-HT2 receptor. Chronic (but not acute) treatment with the selective 5-HT uptake inhibitors, paroxetine and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, p.o., for 21 days), resulted in a significant increase in the maximum response to 5-HT without altering the EC50. There were no significant alterations in the density or affinity of 5-HT2 receptors, labelled with [3H]ketanserin. In contrast, treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline (10 mg/kg, p.o., for 21 days), did not produce a significant change in 5-HT-stimulated hydrolysis of PI or in the number and affinity of 5-HT2 receptors. The findings are discussed in relation to the possible neurochemical targets for antidepressant drugs and species differences in the responses to these agents.