CONCOMITANT ADMINISTRATION OF MK-801 AND DESIPRAMINE ENHANCES EXTRACELLULAR CONCENTRATION OF DOPAMINE IN THE RAT PREFRONTAL CORTEX

THE interaction between the antidepressant drug desipramine and the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 was investigated at the level of dopamine release in the rat prefrontal cortex. Peripheral administration of MK-801 (0.2 mg kg(-1)) or desipramine (10 mg kg(-1)) evoked weak enhancement of the extracellular dopamine concentration in the rat PFC. Desipramine and MK-801 given jointly in doses which by themselves evoked a mild alteration of dopamine outflow (10 mg and 0.2 mg kg(-1) respectively) produced pronounced enhancement of the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the rat prefrontal cortex. It is suggested that the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist may enhance the efficacy of classical antidepressant drugs.