The multi-drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein is expressed in high concentrations at the blood—brain barrier and has a major function in the transport of drugs. In a recent PET-study evidence was found for an increased function of P-glycoprotein at the blood—brain barrier in medicated patients suffering from major depressive disorder. We used small-animal PET and [11C]-verapamil to study P-glycoprotein function at the blood—brain barrier of rats, either being administered as venlafaxine, an antidepressant, or subjected to chronic stress, a factor contributing to the development of depression. In a first experiment, male Wistar rats underwent a three-week foot shock procedure as a model of human depression. In a second experiment, rats were chronically treated with the antidepressant venlafaxine (25 mg/kg/d via an implanted osmotic minipump). In both experiments, a [11C]-verapamil PET scan was performed. In the chronically stressed rats, the distribution volume (VT) of [11C]-verapamil was significantly increased, whereas treatment with venlafaxine had the opposite effect and caused a significant reduction in VT. The changes in VT could not be attributed to the influx rate constant (K1). Our data suggest that P-glycoprotein function at the blood—brain barrier is inhibited by chronic stress and increased by chronic administration of venlafaxine.
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