Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sertraline and cocaine-induced locomotion in mice

I. Acute studies

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study assessed the behavioral and pharmacokinetic interaction between the serotonin uptake blocker sertraline and cocaine in C57BL/6ByJ mice. Pretreatment with sertraline (1–32 mg/kg IP) did not affect the total amount of spontaneous locomotor activity during 50 min following administration of cocaine (15–40 mg/kg IP). At doses of sertraline (16 and 32 mg/kg) much higher than those found to inhibit ex vivo neuronal uptake of serotonin by 50% (1–2 mg/kg), the peak of cocaine-induced locomotor activity was shifted towards a later time. A similar effect was seen after pretreatment with serotonin uptake blockers other than sertraline, and also after desipramine. Sertraline (16 and 32 mg/kg), given 60 min prior to cocaine, did not affect levels of cocaine in brain and plasma, and cocaine administration did not alter the brain level of sertraline. Although female mice were more responsive to cocaine than male mice, they were not different in their response to sertraline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benuck M, Lajtha A, Reith MEA (1987) Pharmacokinetics of systemically administered cocaine and locomotor stimulation in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 243:144–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Benuck M, Reith MEA, Sershen H, Wiener HL, Lajtha A (1989) Oxidative metabolism of cocaine: comparison of brain and liver. PSEBM 190:7–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Blandina P, Goldfarb J, Green JP (1988) Activation of a 5-HT3 receptor releases dopamine from rat striatal slice. Eur J Pharmacol 155:349–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobillier PP, Salvert D, Ligier M, Seguin S (1976) Differential projections of nucleus raphe dorsalis and nucleus raphe centralis as revealed by radioautography. Brain Res 113:449–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Costall B, Domeney AM, Naylor RJ, Tyers MB (1976) Effects of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, GR38032F, on raised dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system of the rat and marmoset brain. Br J Pharmacol 92:881–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Ennis C, Kemp JD, Cox B (1981) Characterization of inhibitory 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors that modulate dopamine release in the striatum. J Neurochem 36:1515–1520

    Google Scholar 

  • Fibiger HC, Miller JJ (1977) An anatomical and electrophysiological investigation of the serotonergic projection from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the substantia nigra in the rat. Neuroscience 2:975–987

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischette CT, Biegon A, McEwen BS (1984) Sex steroid modulation of serotonin behavioral syndrome. Life Sci 35:1197–1206

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank RA, Pommering T, Nitz D (1988) The interactive effects of cocaine and imipramine on self-stimulation train-duration thresholds. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 30:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Galzin AM, Moret C, Verzier B, Langer SZ (1985) Interaction between tricyclic and nontricyclic 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake inhibitors and the presynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine inhibitory autoreceptors in the rat hypothalamus. J Pharmacol Exp ther 235:200–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Gawin FH, Kleber HD (1984) Cocaine abuse treatment. Open pilot trial with desipramine and lithium carbonate. Arch Gen Psychiatry 41:903–909

    Google Scholar 

  • Gawin FH, Kleber HD, Byck R, Rounsaville BJ, Kosten TR, Jatlow PI, Morgan C (1989) Desipramine facilitation of initial cocaine abstinence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 46:117–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick SD, Hinds PA (1984) Sex differences in sensitization to cocaine-induced rotation. Eur J Pharmacol 99:119–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick SD, Hinds PA, Shapiro RM (1983) Cocaine-induced rotation: sex- dependent differences between left-and right-sided rats. Science 221:775–777

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin ML, Weiss RD, Mirin SM, Lange U (1989) A comparison of male and female cocaine abusers. Arch Gen Psychiatry 46:122–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Herve D, Pickel VM, Joh TH, Beaudet A (1987) Serotonin axon terminals in the ventral tegmental area of the rat: fine structure and synaptic input to dopaminergic neurons. Brain Res 435:71–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Heym J, Koe BK (1986) Pharmacology of sertraline: A review. J Clin Psychiatry 49:40–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang D, Wilson MC (1984) The effects ofdl-cathinone,d-amphethamine and cocaine on avoidance responding in rats and their interactions with haloperidol and methysergide. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 20:721–729

    Google Scholar 

  • Imai H, Steindler DA, Kitai ST (1986) The organization of divergent axonal projections from the midbrain raphe nuclei in the rat. J Comp Neurol 243:363–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamal LA, Arbilla S, Galzin AM, Langer SZ (1983) Amphetamine inhibits the electrically evoked release of [3H]dopamine from slices of the rabbit caudate. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 227:446–458

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennett GA, Chalouoff F, Marcou F, Curzon G (1986) Female rats are more vulnerable than males in an animal model of depression: the possible role of serotonin. Brain Res 382:416–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Koe BK (1976) Molecular geometry of inhibitors of the uptake of catecholamines and serotonin in synaptosomal preparations of rat brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 199:949–661

    Google Scholar 

  • Koe BK, Weissman A, Welch WM, Browne RG (1983) Sertraline, 1S,4S-N-methyl-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylamine, a new uptake inhibitor with selectivity for serotonin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 226:686–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra AL, Vadlamani NL, Pontani RB (1986) Cocaine-desipramine interaction. Res Commun Subst Abuse 7:85–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Nedergaard S, Bolam JP, Greenfield SA (1988) Facilitation of a dendritic calcium conductance by 5-hydroxytryptamine in the substantia nigra. Nature 333:174–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Nurse B, Russell VA, Taljaard JJF (1988) Characterization of the effects of serotonin on the release of [3H]dopamine from rat nucleus accumbens and striatal slices. Neurochem Res 13:403–407

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien CP, Childress AR, Arndt IO (1988) Pharmacological and behavioral treatments of cocaine dependence: controlled studies. J Clin Psychiatry 49:17–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Parent A, Descarries L, Beaudet A (1981) Organization of ascending serotonin systems in the adult rat brain. A radioautographic study after intraventricular administration of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine. Neuroscience 6:115–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelayo F, Dubocovich ML, Langer SZ (1980) Inhibition of neuronal uptake reduces the presynaptic effects of clonidine but not of α-methylnoradrenaline on the stimulation-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline from rat occipital cortex slices. Eur J Pharmacol 64:143–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan SN, Battacharyya AL, Pradhan S (1978) Serotoninergic manipulation of the behavioral effects of cocaine in rats. Commun Psychopharmacol 2:481–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith MEA, Fischette CT (1990) Sertraline and cocaine-induced locomotion in mice. II. Chronic studies. Psychopharmacology 103:306–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith MEA, Meisler BE, Lajtha A (1985) Locomotor effects of cocaine, cocaine congeners, and local anesthetics in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 23:831–836

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith MEA, Meisler BE, Sershen H, Lajtha A (1986) Structural requirements for cocaine congeners to interact with dopamine and serotonin uptake sites in mouse brain and to induce stereotyped behavior. Biochem Pharmacol 35:1123–1129

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith MEA, Benuck M, Lajtha A (1987) Cocaine disposition in the brain after continuous or intermittent treatment and locomotor stimulation in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 243:281–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Richelson E, Nelson A (1984) Antagonism by antidepressants of neurotransmitter receptors of normal human brain in vitro. Pharmacol Exp Ther 230:94–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson TE, Becker JB (1986) Enduring changes in brain and behavior produced by chronic amphetamine administration: a review and evaluation of animal models of amphetamine psychosis. Brain Res Rev 11:157–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheel-Krüger JC, Braestrup C, Nielsen M, Golembiowska K, Mogilnicka E (1977) Cocaine: discussion on the role of dopamine in the biochemical mechanism of action. In: Ellinwood EH, Kilbey MM (eds) Advances in behavioral biology: cocaine and other stimulants. Plenum Press, New York, pp 373–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenkel CL, Boff E (1964) Behavioral effects of interacting imipramine and other drugs withd-amphetamine, cocaine, and tetrabenazine. Psychopharmacology 5:198–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Shank RP, Vaught JL, Pelley KA, Setler PE, McComsey DF, Maryanof BE (1988) McN-5652: a highly potent inhibitor of serotonin uptake. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 247:1032–1038

    Google Scholar 

  • Snoddy AM, Tessel RE (1985) Prazosin: effect on psychomotor-stimulant cues and locomotor activity in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 116:221–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockmeier CA, McLeskey SW, Blendy JA, Armstrong NR, Kellar KJ (1987) Electroconvulsive shock but not antidepressant drugs increasesa 1-adrenoceptor binding sites in rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol 139:259–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker JC, File SE (1986) The effects of tricyclic and “atypical” antidepressants on spontaneous locomotor activity in rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 10:115–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Ugedo L, Grenhoff J, Svensson TH (1989) Ritanserin, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, activates midbrain dopamine neurons by blocking serotonergic inhibition. Psychopharmacology 98:45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger GR (1989) The role of control activity levels in the reported strain differences to the behavioral effects of drugs in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 32:241–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Westfall TC, Tittermary V (1982) Inhibition of the electrically induced release of [3H]dopamine by serotonin from superfused rat striatal slices. Neurosci Lett 28:205–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiener HL, Kramer HK, Reith MEA (1990) Separation and determination of sertraline and its metabolite, desmethylsertraline, in mouse cerebral cortex by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 527:467–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams J, Davies JA (1983) The involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the release of dendritic dopamine from slices of rat substantia nigra. J Pharm Pharmacol 35:734–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise RA, Bozarth MA (1987) A psychomotor stimulant theory of addiction. Pychol Rev 94:469–492

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Maarten E. A. Reith

    Present address: Division Neurochemistry, N.S. Kline Institute, Building 39, 10962, Orangeburg, NY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurochemistry, N.S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Ward's Island, 10035, New York, NY, USA

    Maarten E. A. Reith

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University, Grand Central and Utopia Parkways, 11439, Jamaica, NY, USA

    Harvey L. Wiener

  3. Department Clinical and Scientific Affairs, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, 235 E 42nd Street, 10017, New York, NY, USA

    Christine T. Fischette

Authors
  1. Maarten E. A. Reith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harvey L. Wiener
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christine T. Fischette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Funded by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Study 88-N-0123

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reith, M.E.A., Wiener, H.L. & Fischette, C.T. Sertraline and cocaine-induced locomotion in mice. Psychopharmacology 103, 297–305 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244282

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244282

Key words

Search

Navigation