Abstract
Glutamate transporters regulate the glutamate concentration in the synaptic cleft within the CNS, a regulation required for normal brain function. In several neurological conditions, the amount of glutamate is altered. One reason for the changes in glutamate concentration might be impaired glutamate transporter function. In this study, an in situ hybridisation technique has been used to elucidate changes in mRNA expression of the glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1), after treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) amitriptyline. The results lead to the suggestion that treatment with tricyclic antidepressants leads to changes in the EAAC1 mRNA expression in rat brain suggesting involvement of the glutamate system in the tricyclic treatment of depression.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / genetics*
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Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / metabolism*
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Amitriptyline / pharmacology*
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Amitriptyline / therapeutic use
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Animals
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / pharmacology*
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
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Brain / anatomy & histology
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Brain / metabolism
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Depression / drug therapy
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Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3
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Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Glutamic Acid / metabolism
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Male
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Symporters / genetics*
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Symporters / metabolism*
Substances
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Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
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Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3
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Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Slc1a1 protein, rat
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Symporters
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Amitriptyline
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Glutamic Acid