Desipramine hydrochloride is an inhibitor of norepinephrine transporter (NET), 5-HT transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) with Kis of 4, 61 and 78,720 nM, respectively.
Treatment of rats with Desipramine hydrochloride for 14 days reduces norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by a reduction of the specific binding of 3H-nisoxetine to the NET in preparations of cerebral cortex (F(3,16)=4.33, p<0.05) and hippocampus (F(3,16)=4.34, p<0.05). This NET down regulation is observed 2 days after discontinuation of chronic Desipramine hydrochloride treatment, a time when plasma and brain concentrations of Desipramine hydrochloride and desmethyldesipramine are undetectable (ie below the 25 ng detection limit of the assay)[2].
References:
[1]. Torres GE, et al. Plasma membrane monoamine transporters: structure, regulation and function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 Jan;4(1):13-25.
[2]. Zhao Z, et al. Norepinephrine transporter regulation mediates the long-term behavioral effects of the antidepressant desipramine. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Dec;33(13):3190-200.