| pubmed-article:1722031 | pubmed:abstractText | Tricyclic antidepressants, when administered acutely, are known to potentiate morphine-induced antinociception. Systemic administration of morphine has been shown to increase the metabolism of serotonin (5-HT) at the level of the nucleus raphe magnus, as measured by in vivo electrochemistry, in freely-moving rats. Using a similar electrochemical detection of 5-hydroxyindole (peak "3") in the nucleus raphe magnus, the present study investigated the effect of the specific 5-HT uptake inhibitor, femoxetine, on peak 3 and on changes in the metabolism of 5-HT, induced by morphine. Acutely administered femoxetine (40 mg/kg i.p.) induced a significant decrease in peak 3 and completely abolished the effect of morphine (10 mg/kg i.p.) on the metabolism of 5-HT. These data do not support the contention that potentiation of morphine-induced analgesia, by tricyclic depressants results from an interaction between the tricyclic antidepressants and the morphine-induced increase in metabolism of 5-HT, at the level of the nucleus raphe magnus. | lld:pubmed |
