STIMULATION OF IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE-EXPRESSION BY DESIPRAMINE IN RAT-BRAIN

The stimulation of immediate early gene expression in brain nad neuron al cell culture systems has been reported after various experimental p aradigms such as chemiconvulsant-provoked seizures or specific drug ap plications. In particular, the induction of immediate early genes by a drenergic model substances has been demonstrated by several investigat ors. This report demonstrates that a single dose of desipramine (10 or 25 mg/kg), a classical tricyclic antidepressant drug acting on the ad renergic system, induced c-fos and zif268 expression in rat hippocampu s without affecting c-jun. The observed immediate early gene response might reflect part of a signal transduction cascade involved in long-t erm neuroadaptive and behavioral changes after antidepressant drug tre atment. (C) 1997 Society of Biological Psychiatry.