Date of Award
1982
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Specialization
Pharmacy and Toxicology
Department
Pharmacology and Toxicology
First Advisor
Al Swonger
Abstract
Reasons for the observed lag-time for clinical efficacy of the tricyclic antidepressant drug, protriptyline, have been investigated. Our results demonstrate that chronic protriptyline administration results in several compensatory neural mechanisms: (1) changes in endogeneous cytoplasmic norepinephrine levels, (2) changes in norepinephrine turnover rate/recovery rate following the last dose in a chronic series of test drug administrations and (3) adaptations of the pre-synaptic receptor. The time course for these adaptive changes parallel the time required for the onset of their clinical effectiveness.
We propose that acutely the action of the tricyclics on norepinephrine re-uptake is largely negated by compensatory adjustments in turnover rate of the neurotransmitter; but with chronic administration, adaptations in pre-synaptic alpha-receptors occur. This phenomena in turn reduces the extent to which the norepinephrine neurons can offset or compensate for the blockade of norepinephrine re-uptake. Specifically, pre-synaptic alpha-receptors become hyposensitive, and receptor tolerance develops; not to the direct action of the tricyclic drug on neurotransmitter re-uptake, but to the compensatory neural adjustments which offset the action of the acute tricyclic administration and delay their clinical efficacy.
Recommended Citation
Kaiser, Edward A., "THE INTEGRATED RELATIONSHIPS OF PROTRIPTYLINE, THYROID STATUS AND NORADRENERGIC MECHANISMS IN RAT BRAIN" (1982). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 154.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/154
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