Effect of long-term rolipram administration on the sensitivity of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat brain

The effects of single and chronic doses of rolipram on the sensitivity of alpha 2-adrenoceptors have been compared with the phosphodiesterase inhibitors, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and ICI 63,197, and the antidepressant, desipramine. While pretreatment with a single dose of rolipram, ICI 63,197 or IBMX administered either 1 or 24 h prior to clonidine (0.1 mg/kg) enhanced clonidine-induced hypothermia and hypoactivity, chronic dosing (twice daily for 14 days) with desipramine (10 mg/kg) or rolipram (5 mg/kg) antagonized these behavioural effects. In contrast, chronic dosing with IBMX or ICI 63,197 failed to antagonize clonidine-induced hypothermia and hypoactivity. In binding studies neither ICI 63,197, IBMX, rolipram nor desipramine induced changes in the binding of 3H-labelled clonidine to rat cerebral cortical membranes following chronic administration. The failure of ICI 63,107 and IBMX to antagonize clonidine-induced hypothermia and hypoactivity suggests that the antidepressant effect of rolipram is independent of its phosphodiesterase inhibitor property.