Desipramine hydrochloride

A tricyclic dibenzazepine compound that potentiates neurotransmission. Desipramine selectively blocks reuptake of norepinephrine from the neural synapse, and also appears to impair serotonin transport. This compound also possesses minor anticholinergic activity, through its affinity to muscarinic receptors. (In Vivo) :Treatment of rats with Desipramine hydrochloride for 14 days reduces norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by a reduction of the specific binding of 3H-nisoxetine to the NET in preparations of cerebral cortex (F (3,16) =4.33, p<0.05) and hippocampus (F (3,16) =4.34, p<0.05) . This NET down regulation is observed 2 days after discontinuation of chronic Desipramine hydrochloride treatment, a time when plasma and brain concentrations of Desipramine hydrochloride and desmethyldesipramine are undetectable (ie below the 25 ng detection limit of the assay) .