Influence of antidepressant drugs on Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (E-NPPs) from salivary glands of rats

Xerostomia is commonly caused by antidepressant drugs and ATP can influence the saliva production. Adenosine is the product of extracellular hydrolysis of adenine nucleotides in submandibular gland cells, which occurs by the action of ectonucleotidases. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of three different antidepressants in ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP1–3) activities in cultured cells from salivary glands. Rats received imipramine (10 mg/ml), fluoxetine (20 mg/ml) or moclobemide (30 mg/ml) by oral gavage. The drugs were administered once a day for 14 days. Our results have shown that the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-5′-thymidine monophosphate increased in all treatments. These effects were not consequence of transcriptional control of E-NPP1–3 genes. The results reported here can highlight the importance of ectonucleotidases in the most common side effect caused by antidepressant therapy.