Journal
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
Volume 54, Issue 8, Pages 840-846Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00074-X
Keywords
drug resistance multiple; P-glycoprotein; mice knockout; brain; antidepressive agents
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Mice with a genetic disruption (knockout) of the multiple drug resistance (abcb1ab) gene were used to examine the effect of the absence of the drug-transporting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) at the blood-brain barrier on the uptake of the antidepressants venlafaxine, paroxetine, mirtazapine, and doxepin and its metabolites into the brain. Methods: One hour after subcutaneous injection of venlafaxine, paroxetine, mirtazapine, or doxepin, knockout and wildtype mice were sacrificed, and the drug concentrations in brain, spleen, kidney, liver, and plasma were measured. Results: The cerebrum concentrations of doxepin, venlafaxine, and paroxetine were higher in knockout mice, demonstrating that these substances are substrates of P-gp and that abcb1ab activity at the level of the blood-brain barrier reduces the penetration of these substances into the brain. In contrast, brain distribution of mirtazapine was indistinguishable between the groups. Conclusions: The differences reported here in brain penetration of antidepressant drugs that depend on the presence of the abcb1ab gene may offer an explanation for poor or nonresponse to antidepressant treatment. Furthermore, they may be able to explain in part the discrepancies between plasma levels of an antidepressant and its clinical effects and side effects. (C) 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available