3H-imipramine and 3H-cyano-imipramine binding in rat brain tissue: effect of long-term antidepressant administration

3H-imipramine and 3H-cyano-imipramine binding was determined in brain homogenates of rats which had been treated for 21 days with imipramine or desimipramine. When compared to control animals, long-term administration of these antidepressants did not induce any alteration in the maximal number of 3H-imipramine or 3H-cyano-imipramine binding sites. However, a transient increase in the apparent dissociation constant was observed. Such findings are discussed in respect to previous studies, which have been highly contraversial.