TIANEPTINE TREATMENT INDUCES REGIONALLY SPECIFIC CHANGES IN MONOAMINES

Tianeptine is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant that facilitates se rotonin (5-HT) reuptake. Tianeptine (10 mg/kg) or saline was administe red intraperitoneally to male rats daily for 4 days. Monoamine levels were measured in micropunches of discrete brain nuclei that are implic ated in mood and cognition. In addition, the rates of 5-HT and norepin ephrine (NE) accumulation were determined by the pargyline method. Few changes were noted in the 5-HT system. 5-HT levels were increased by short-term tianeptine in the CA3 region of hippocampus, and 5-hydroxyi ndoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was increased in the ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus, while 5-HT turnover was decreased in preoptic area (POA ). In addition, short-term tianeptine treatment increased NE levels in POA, parietal sensory cortex (SCTX) and dorsal raphe (DR), and decrea sed NE in dentate gyrus. NE turnover was also decreased in DR, SCTX an d parietal motor cortex. These data suggest that the short-term neural and behavioral actions of tianeptine may be attributable, in part, to alterations of the norepinephrine system.