Long-term administration of the antidepressant vilazodone modulates rat brain monoaminergic systems

Vilazodone has high affinity for the human 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (h5-HT1A) receptor and for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). A previous in vivo microdialysis experiment showed that a single administration of vilazodone, dose-dependently increases extracellular 5-HT but not norepinephrine (NE) or dopamine (DA) levels in rat medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. The effects of vilazodone on monoaminergic systems were assessed using single-unit extracellular recordings and microiontophoresis in the rat brain. Following depletion of 5-HT with para-chlorophenylalanine methyl-ester hydrochloride (PCPA), vilazodone still suppressed neuronal firing of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) 5-HT neurons to a similar extent than controls, indicating that this inhibition is via 5-HT1A receptors activation. Following 2-day intraperitoneal administration of vilazodone (5 mg/kg/day), there was a significant decrease in 5-HT neuronal firing which recovered to baseline levels by day 14 of administration, likely due to 5-HT1A autoreceptor desensitization. Two- and 14-day administration of vilazodone decreased the mean firing and bursting activities of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons, while only its repeated administration significantly dampened the mean firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) NE neurons. Vilazodone acted as an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, while showing a 5-HTT blocking capacity when injected acutely. After repeated vilazodone regimen, while there was no change in sensitivity of 5-HT1A receptors, the enhancement in 5-HT transmission yielded an increase in the tonic activation of these receptors located in the hippocampus. •The antidepressant vilazodone has high affinity for 5-HT1A receptors and the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT).•Inhibition of 5-HT neuronal firing is due to the action of vilazodone on 5-HT1A receptors but not 5-HTT.•Administration of vilazodone for 14 days resulted in normalization of firing activity of 5-HT neurons.•The same regimen increased the tonic activation of 5-HT1A receptors of CA3 pyramidal neurons of hippocampus.•Repeated administration of vilazodone significantly dampened firing activity of NE and DA neurons firing.