Effect of prenatal exposure to tianeptine on different neurotransmitter receptors and 5-HT-stimulated inositol phosphate formation in rat brain

Abstract

Tianeptine, an antidepressant drug enhancing 5-HT uptake, was given to pregnant rats in the last 15 days of gestation and different neurotransmitter receptors as well as 5-HT₂ receptor-linked inositol phosphate formation were measured in the brains of the offspring. Prenatal exposure to tianeptine significantly decreased the density of³H-imipramine binding sites in the cerebral cortex of the pups without affecting Β-adrenoceptors, serotonin 5-HT₂ and 5-HT_1B receptors or inositol phosphate formation after a 5-HT challenge. Striatal dopamine D₂ receptors labelled with³H-spiroperidol were not changed but an apparent increase in the affinity of dopamine was noticed in the pups prenatally exposed to the drug. The results show that the neurochemical profile of tianeptine markedly differs from that of most antidepressants.