[Cerebral aminopeptidase activity: effect of the administration of imipramine].

Abstract

Imipramine is widely accepted as an effective antidepressant treatment. In this paper, changes in Lys- and Leu-aminopeptidase activities in several rat brain regions after imipramine treatment are described. Decreases of Lys-aminopeptidase activity in the olphactory bulbus, cerebellum, hypothalamus and pituitary gland were observed. In the same way, there were a decreases in Leu-aminopeptidase activity in the parietal and occipital cortices, cerebellum thalamus, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It is suggested that these enzyme activities play a part in the imipramine action mechanism, possibly by regulating the activity of several neuroactive peptides.