Trazodone influence on rat sera beta-endorphins level

Abstract

Some 25 years ago it was found that parts of CNS could produce strong analgesic response on little morphine quantities. Later studies proved the existence for dozen of morphine-like substances, called opioids, which are normally produced in the brain. The most important are endorphins, met- and leu-encephalin and dinorphin produced both in hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The aim of our study was to found whether and how strong produce of beta-endorphins is to be expected when psychotropic drugs are used. Trazodon as antidepressant was used, and RIA technique for quantification of sera beta-endorphins. The results showed significant difference in rat sera beta-endorphins between certain days of drug application. These studies showed that beta-endorphins could be of great importance, used as markers for evaluation of patient treatment and eventual abuse of psychotropic drugs.

Brain and serum beta-endorphin concentrations in trazodone treated rats

“…Re sear ch in the fi e ld of psychop har ma ceu ti ca ls has pro vided con si de rab le knowled ge about their fa vo rab le eff ects as we ll as si de eff ec ts. Tri cyclic an ti dep res san ts we re in tro du ced fi r st, showi ng eff ec ts as a sup ple me nt for the pri ma ry ro le of inhi bi tion of no re pi nep hri ne and se ro tonin up ta ke by the ner vous en ds (1,2). Al thou gh the effi ca cy of se lec ti ve se ro to nin reup ta ke inhi bi to rs (SSRIs) and tri cyclic an ti dep res san ts is si mi lar, the SSRIs ha ve bet ter sa fe ty and to le ra bi li ty pro fi le, ma ki ng them pre fe rab le agen ts for all anxie ty di sor de rs.…”

“…Is tra ži va nja na pod ruč ju psi ho far ma ceu ti ke pru ži la su dosta saz na nja o nji ho vim po zi tiv nim učin ci ma, kao i o nus poja va ma. Naj pri je su se po če li ra bi ti tri cik lič ni an ti dep re si vi ko ji su ima li do dat ni uči nak uz nji ho vu pri mar nu ulo gu, a to je in hi bi ci ja preu zi ma nja no re pi nef ri na i se ro to ni na u živ ča nim zav r še ci ma (1,2). Ia ko je učin ko vi to st se lek tiv nih in hi bi to ra po nov nog preuzi ma nja se ro to ni na (SSRI) i tri cik lič nih an ti dep re si va slič na, SSRI ima ju bo lji pro fi l neš kod lji vos ti i pod noš lji vos ti, što im da je pred no st kod svih an ksioz nih po re me ća ja.…”