Interaction of amitriptyline with muscarinic receptor subtypes in the rat brain.

Article Details

Citation

Goldman P, Scranton T, Messer WS Jr

Interaction of amitriptyline with muscarinic receptor subtypes in the rat brain.

Neurochem Int. 1989;14(4):447-54.

PubMed ID
20504448 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The affinity of amitriptyline for muscarinic receptors in rat brain areas was studied using autoradiographic techniques including image analysis. As shown by competitive inhibition of [(3)H]-l-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding, amitriptyline was found to be a potent inhibitor of muscarinic receptors throughout the rat brain. Muscarinic receptors in the external layers of the cortex displayed a high affinity for amitriptyline (IC(50) = 65.8 +/- 2.1 nM), while the hippocampal regions had somewhat lower affinities (e.g. IC(50) = 96.3 +/- 3.4 nM). Amitriptyline bound with lower affinity in the thalamus and various midbrain regions, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus and the superior colliculus, which had IC(50) values of 112 +/- 6.8 and 117 +/- 32.6 nM, respectively. Other midbrain regions displayed higher affinities, for example, the substantia nigra had an IC(50) value of 62.8 +/- 0.9 nM. The data show that amitriptyline binds with high affinity to muscarinic receptors with a modest subtype selectivity that is unlike that of either pirenzepine or AF-DX 116. In addition, amitriptyline at concentrations of 10 nM-1 ?M antagonized the oxotremorine-induced inhibition of acetylcholine release in cortical nerve endings, demonstrating activity at M(2) autoreceptors.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
AmitriptylineMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor (Protein Group)Protein groupHumans
Unknown
Ligand
Details