EFFECT OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS ON ATP CONTENT, H-3 VALINE INCORPORATION AND CELL MORPHOMETRY OF ASTROCYTES CULTURED FROM RAT-BRAIN

ATP is a potential marker of cell vialibility and growth. The content of ATP and H-3-valine incorporation into proteins were measured and th e morphometry was performed after antidepressant treatment of astrocyt es cultured in vitro with or without dibutyryl 3'5'-cyclic adenosine m onophosphate (dB-cAMP). Antidepressants were added into the culture me dium (for 24 h) at a final concentration of 10(-4)M (imipramine, amitr iptyline, clomipramine, doxepine, mianserin) or 10(-5)M (maprotiline). It was shown that all antidepressants except maprotiline and imiprami ne increased ATP level and decreased H-3-valine incorporation into ast rocytes. All drugs except clomipramine and maprotiline, diminished cel l area and perimeter of astrocytes. The addition of dB-cAMP to culture s caused an increase of astrocyte form factor. It can be concluded tha t antidepressants have a significant effect on energy metabolism and d ifferentiation of astrocytes cultured in vitro.