¹Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter (ZAFES), University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

Correspondence: Professor Dr WE Müller, Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter (ZAFES), Marie-Curie Strasse 9, 60439 Frankfurt, Germany, Tel: +49 69 79829373; Fax: +49 69 79829374; E-mail: PharmacolNat@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Received 11 August 2005; Revised 13 February 2006; Accepted 7 March 2006; Published online 12 April 2006.

Abstract

It is well established that hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, characterized by elevated circulating cortisol concentrations and impaired negative feedback inhibition, is associated with affective disorders. As normalization of the HPA axis function and mood-stabilizing effects occur simultaneously during antidepressant treatment, it is likely that these effects are either directly or indirectly dependent. Although data concerning the outward transport of glucocorticoids from the brain by P-glycoprotein (Pgp) are inconsistent, it has been hypothesized that antidepressants exert their clinical activity in parts by inhibiting Pgp, subsequently leading to enhanced brain glucocorticoid levels and the normalization of the HPA axis function. Here, we report on the effects of different antidepressants (amitriptyline, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, St John's wort extract) on the brain/plasma distribution of corticosterone in mice after acute and subchronic treatment. The four antidepressants exerted different effects on the corticosterone concentration in brain and plasma. Changes in corticosterone levels were highly correlated, suggesting passive diffusion between both tissues. St John's wort extract and fluoxetine elevated brain and plasma corticosterone concentrations after subchronic treatment. Mirtazapine and amitriptyline had no effect on corticosterone concentration after subchronic treatment, possibly because both are also potent antagonists at the 5-HT2 receptor, which mediates HPA axis stimulation by serotonergic stimuli. In addition, St John's wort is the only antidepressant tested which slightly elevated Pgp protein level in the brain.