Antidepressant-like effects of tiagabine on locomotor/exploratory behaviour and leukocyte phagocytosis in rats
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | European Neuropsychopharmacology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry |
| Keywords | animal model; depression; olfactory bulbectomy; tiagabine |
| Description | The purpose of the study was to test a potential antidepressant effect of the 3rd generation antiepileptic tiagabine in rats with bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (OB), which is a well-established animal model of human depression resembling behavioural, immune and endocrine changes. In rats we examined tiagabine effect on locomotor/exploratory activities in the open-field test, and on phagocytosis of leukocytes. Compared to the sham-operated animals OB rats showed a characteristic locomotor hyperactivity in the open-field and a significant suppression of leukocyte phagocytosis. Repeated tiagabine treatment (12 mg/kg/day, 10 days, intraperitoneally) elicited a significant decrease of the locomotor hyperactivity in the open field test, and significant disinhibition of leukocyte phagocytosis. Taking into account that clinically approved antidepressants reverse OB related behavioural and immune disorders (Leonard and Tuite, 1981) the results of both present experiments indicate the hypothesized antidepressant activity of tiagabine. |
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