Modification by Chronic Antidepressant Treatment of the Effect of Electroconvulsive Shock on Body Temperature in Mice

The time course of rectal temperature following a single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) was measured in mice 24 h after a single i.p. administration (10 mg/kg) of desipramine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, pargyline, or saline, as well as 24 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the last of 14 once-daily administrations of these antidepressants. There was a decrease of >2 degrees C following a single ECS lasting for at least 90 min, which was not altered by single-dose antidepressant treatment. Following chronic antidepressant treatment, there was a marked attenuation 24 h after the last dose of all drugs used. There was no attenuation 1 and 2 weeks following chronic treatment. Taken together with earlier studies, ECS affects body temperature similarly to 8-OH-DPAT [8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin] and clonidine. However, the mechanism is not yet clear.