The effect of calcium channel blockade on the action of chronic ECT and imipramine on responses of alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptors in the rat cerebral cortex.

Chronic co-administration of nifedipine and ECT or imipramine results in an increase in responsiveness of cerebral cortical alpha 1-adrenoceptors as measured by accumulation of inositol phosphate in cortical slices after noradrenaline stimulation; the responsiveness of beta-adrenoceptor, measured by accumulation of cyclic AMP, was depressed similarly by antidepressant treatment with and without nifedipine.