Comparison of the effects of 4 psychiatric treatments on rat brain beta 5HT2 receptors]

Four psychiatric treatments, such as electro-convulsive treatment (ECT), insulin coma, electroacupuncture (EA) and antidepressants were given to rats chronically, and the brain cortex beta and serotonin2 receptors were measured. Comparing with their control groups we found that chronic ECT, insulin coma and EA have similar effect to down-regulate the specific coma and EA have receptor, but almost no effect on serotonin2 receptor. Antidepressants have various effects on brain monoamine receptors. The major effects of desipramine and imipramine were down-regulate B receptor, while of amitriptyline was down-regulate 5HT2 receptor. Our data suggested that different psychiatric treatment might effort their therapeutic effects mediated by different monoamine function in CNS.