The effect of antidepressants on ethylmorphine and imipramine N-demethylation in rat liver microsomes

Abstract

Abstract The effects of single and multiple doses of desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram on the rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 level and on the rate of ethylmorphine and imipramine demethylation in-vitro have been investigated. Desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram when given to rats as a single dose, did not affect the level of cytochrome P-450 in the liver microsomes, however, there was a tendency towards acceleration of imipramine, and particularly ethylmorphine, demethylation. Prolonged administration of desipramine and citalopram, but not amitriptyline, elevated the microsomal level of cytochrome P-450 and accelerated the rate of ethylmorphine demethylation. All the drugs investigated, when given chronically, inhibited the rate of imipramine demethylation. Since demethylation of ethylmorphine and imipramine in a CO atmosphere was inhibited by ca 90% for the former and only by 58% for the latter, it can be assumed that prolonged administration of the drugs investigated has two different effects on the oxygenase systems in rat liver microsomes: on the one hand they stimulate the cytochrome P450 oxygenase system involved in ethylmorphine demethylation and, on the other, they inhibit the other microsomal oxygenase system involved in demethylation of imipramine.