Abstract
We have applied ex vivo and in vivo methods to examine the possible effects of chronic d-fenfluramine administration on rat brain serotonin (5-HT) levels and release. Low anorectic doses of d-fenfluramine (1.25–5 mg/kg/day for 10 days) did not change hypothalamic 5-HT levels or release (basal and electrically-evoked) 6 days after the last treatment. Repeated administration of a higher dose of d-fenfluramine (10 mg/kg/day) reduced hypothalamic and frontal cortex levels of 5-HT. Evoked 5-HT release was proportionately decreased in both brain areas, but basal 5-HT release was unaffected. Administering a dose of tryptophan restored evoked 5-HT release in the frontal cortex. These data suggest that only at doses which far exceed those needed to inhibit of food intake does d-fenfluramine cause a prolonged reduction in brain 5-HT levels and release. These decrements may result in part from tryptophan depletion within serotoninergic nerve terminals.
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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Schaechter, J.D., Laferrere, B., Wurtman, R.J. (1990). Effect of Chronic D-Fenfluramine Administration on Rat Brain Serotonin Levels and Release. In: Paoletti, R., Vanhoutte, P.M., Brunello, N., Maggi, F.M. (eds) Serotonin. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1912-9_79
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1912-9_79
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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