Single Electroconvulsive Shock and Dopamine Autoreceptors

Dopamine (DA) auto receptor down regulation has been suggested to mediate the therapeutic effect of antidepressant treatments including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Suggestion has also been made that a single ECT may have antidepressant potential via such a mechanism. The present study was therefore conducted to assess the effects ill a single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on dopamine auto receptors in the rat brain. Using the low dose, Apomorphine-induccd by pomotilily behavioural paradigm, DA auto receptor function was studied one and eight days alter a single true ECS, and 8 days alter a single sham ECS. No significant difference was observed between the groups. The results suggest that single ECS exerts neither acute nor time-dependant DA auto receptor effects; however, the issue in certain aspects remains open for further study.