T. Dennis et al., ANTIDEPRESSANTS REVERSE THE OLFACTORY BULBECTOMY-INDUCED DECREASES INSPLENIC PERIPHERAL-TYPE BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTORS IN RATS, European journal of pharmacology, 272(2-3), 1995, pp. 279-288
The present study investigated the effects of 21-day administration of
clorgyline (1 mg/kg/day), desipramine (10 mg/kg/day) or paroxetine (1
0 mg/kg/day) on peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in rat periph
eral tissues following bilateral olfactory bulbectomy. Thymus and sple
en weights decreased as a result of bulbectomy. Subsequent antidepress
ant drug administration had no further effects on the weights of thymu
s glands but increased those of spleens. In thymus glands, higher dens
ities of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors were observed in med
ulla than in cortex; no significant variations were observed following
bulbectomy or antidepressant drug administration. In spleen, higher d
ensities were observed in white pulp than in red pulp. The bulbectomy-
induced decreases in binding densities observed in both regions were r
eversed following administration of antidepressants. Adrenal periphera
l-type benzodiazepine receptors were not altered by bulbectomy or subs
equent treatment with clorgyline or desipramine while paroxetine upreg
ulated these receptors. No changes in kidney peripheral-type benzodiaz
epine receptors were observed. The present study confirms that cell li
nes of the rat immune system possess high densities of peripheral-type
benzodiazepine receptor binding sites and further support the content
ion that, following olfactory bulbectomy, rats may present an antidepr
essant-reversible immunitary dysfunction.