Down-regulation of cortical beta-adrenoceptors by chronic treatment with functional NMDA antagonists

Down-regulation of cortical beta-adrenoceptors is observed in laboratory animals following chronic treatment with many clinically effective antidepressant therapies. [3H]Dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding to cortical beta-adrenoceptors was examined in mice treated with the functional NMDA antagonists 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid (ACPC) and MK-801. ACPC and MK-801 reduced [3H]DHA binding by 19 (P less than 0.05) and 21% (P less than 0.05), respectively, while imipramine produced a 23% (P less than 0.05) reduction. No corresponding changes in the KD of [3H]DHA were observed. These findings are consistent with the observation that functional NMDA antagonists are active in animal models commonly used to evaluate antidepressants and may represent a novel approach to the treatment of depression.