Effect of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on lymphocyte membrane structure

Tricyclic antidepressant-induced perturbations of murine splenic lymphocyte membranes and cell surface concanavalin A receptor mobility have been investigated using the fluorescent probes diphenylhexatriene and fluorescein-conjugated concanavalin A. Results of these studies illustrate the possible relationship between tricyclic antidepressant-induced membrane perturbations and tricyclic antidepressant-induced suppression of the normal murine lymphocyte mitogen response. Tricyclic antidepressant effects on murine splenic lymphocyte membranes are dose-, time- and temperature- dependent. Murine lymphocyte concanavalin A cell surface receptor mobility is not apparently altered by the tricyclic antidepressants.