CA2-LIKE ADAPTATION OF THE NMDA RECEPTOR COMPLEX( ANTAGONISTS EFFECT AN ANTIDEPRESSANT)

Chronic, but not acute treatment of mice with nimodipine and diltiazem produce significant increases in the IC50 of glycine to inhibit [H-3] 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid binding in cerebral cortex. Such adaptive c hanges in the ligand binding properties of the NMDA receptor complex a re also manifested following chronic treatment with antidepressants fr om every principal therapeutic class. These findings indicate voltage- dependent calcium channel antagonists would be strong candidates for r igorous clinical trials in depressive disorders.