Effects of tramadol on alpha2-adrenergic receptors in the rat brain

In recent years, it has been postulated that tramadol, used mainly for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, might display a potential as an antidepressant drug. The present study investigated the effects of acute and repeated tramadol administration on the binding of [3H]RX 821002, a selective alpha2-adrenergic receptor ligand, in the rat brain. Male Wistar rats were used. Tramadol (20 mg/kg, i.p.) administered acutely (single dose), at 24 h after dosing, induced a significant decrease in the alpha2-adrenergic receptors in all brain regions studied. The most pronounced effects were observed in all subregions of the olfactory system, nucleus accumbens and septum, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex. Repeated treatment with tramadol (20 mg/kg, i.p., once daily for 21 days) also induced statistically significant downregulation of [3H]RX 821002 binding sites in the rat brain. However, the effect--although statistically significant--was less pronounced than in the group treated acutely with the drug. Since drugs such as mianserin and mirtazapine are potent antagonists of central alpha2-adrenergic receptors and are effective antidepressants, it is tempting to suggest that, in addition to other alterations induced by tramadol, downregulation of these receptors may represent a potential antidepressant efficacy. On the other hand, one should be careful to avoid the treatment of chronic pain with tramadol in patients already receiving antidepressant drugs. Tramadol-induced downregulation of alpha2-adrenergic receptors--when combined with ongoing antidepressant therapy with drugs, which themselves inhibit serotonin reuptake or are antagonists of alpha2-adrenergic receptors--might cause threatening complications.