CHRONIC TREATMENT WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS, VERAPAMIL, OR LITHIUM INHIBITS THE SEROTONIN-INDUCED INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM RESPONSE IN INDIVIDUAL C6 RAT GLIOMA-CELLS

The effects of chronic treatment with antidepressants, verapamil, or l ithium on serotonin (5-HT)-induced Ca2+ increase were investigated in single C6BU-1 glioma cells with digital imaging microscopy. Clomiprami ne and citalopram, at a concentration of 100 nM, decreased the peak va lues of 5-HT-induced [Ca2+]i changes. Verapamil (100 nM), a calcium an tagonist, and lithium (1mM) also inhibited the peak amplitudes in the same way. The present findings suggest that chronic treatment with ant idepressants, verapamil, or lithium, at therapeutic concentrations, ha ve the common action of inhibiting 5-HT-mediated [Ca2+]i increase.