Donatella Marazziti, Giorgio Consoli, Francesca Golia, et al

). Read article or submit your manuscript for publishing."/>
skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Trazodone effects on [3H]-paroxetine and α2-adrenoreceptors in platelets of patients with major depression

Original Research

(2130) Views  (616) Full article downloads

Authors:

Donatella Marazziti, Giorgio Consoli, Francesca Golia, et al

Published Date May 2010 Volume 2010:6(1) Pages 255 - 259
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S9279

Donatella Marazziti, Giorgio Consoli, Francesca Golia, Stefano Baroni, Irene Masala, Marina Carlini, Mario Catena Dell’Osso

Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: Trazodone is an antidepressant which behaves as a selective 5-HT2 antagonist and 5-HT reuptake inhibitor. The lack of information on its effects in vivo prompted us to evaluate α2-adrenoceptors by means of the specific binding of [3H]-rauwolscine, and the 5-HT transporter (SERT) by means of the binding of [3H]-paroxetine ([3H]-Par), in platelets of depressed patients, before and after one month of treatment with trazodone (75–300 mg/day). Twenty-five outpatients of both sexes with a diagnosis of major depression, as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV, were included in the study. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by means of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: the total score (mean ± SD) was 20 ± 6 at baseline (t0) and 7 ± 4 after one month of treatment (t1). Platelet membranes, [3H]-rauwolscine and [3H]-Par bindings were carried out according to standardized protocols. The results showed that the Bmax values of [3H]-Par were statistically lower at t1 than at t0 (733 ± 30 vs 1471 ± 99, P < 0.001), while the Kd and the [3H]-rauwolscine binding parameters remained unchanged. The findings of this study suggest that in vivo trazodone modifies the number of the SERT proteins and that, perhaps, most of its antidepressant properties are related to this activity.

Keywords: trazodone, depression, serotonin, platelets, α2-adrenoreceptors, [3H]-rauwolscine, serotonin transporter, [3H]-paroxetine








Readers of this article also read:

Update on ropinirole in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Restless legs syndrome: differential diagnosis and management with pramipexole
Ropinirole in restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder
Role and rationale for the use of milnacipran in the management of fibromyalgia
Recurrent schizophrenia-like psychosis as first manifestation of epilepsy: a diagnostic challenge in neuropsychiatry
The relationship between depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes
Current trends in drug treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder
Optimal management of Alzheimer’s disease patients: Clinical guidelines and family advice
Evaluating the effects of crystallinity in new biocompatible polyester nanocarriers on drug release behavior
The occurrence of adverse drug reactions reported for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications in the pediatric population: a qualitative review of empirical studies