Day/night variation of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid concentration in rat cerebrospinal fluid after acute and long-term administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluvoxamine

When 30 mg/kg, p.o. of fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was administered, significant increases of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and 5-hydroxy indole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) contents in rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were observed from two days after administration of fluvoxamine in both the light and dark periods and in the dark period of the light/dark cycle, respectively. In long-term treatment with 15 mg/kg, p.o. of fluvoxamine, the level of MHPG in CSF exhibited no difference, whereas the levels of 5-HIAA showed a significant increase during the light periods. These results suggest that fluvoxamine enhances the 5-HT system, but only with long-term treatment.