title: Role of central serotonergic neurons in the effect of sertraline in rats in the forced swimming test.
abstract: Sertraline, administered i.p. in single doses or as three injections in 24 h, significantly reduced the immobility of rats in the forced swimming test at 64 and 100 mumol/kg. The effect of three doses of 64 mumol/kg in 24 h was not modified in animals treated i.p. with metergoline (5 mg/kg) 3 h before testing. I.c.v. administration of 150 micrograms 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, which depleted brain serotonin, or infusion of 6 micrograms 6-hydroxydopamine in the locus coeruleus, which markedly depleted noradrenaline in terminal regions, was also ineffective. The effect of 64 mumol/kg sertraline, once daily for 7 days, was not modified by i.c.v. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine. The effect of three doses of 64 mumol/kg sertraline in 24 h was instead completely antagonized by 100 mg/kg sulpiride given 90 min before testing. The exact mechanism of this effect and its relevance for the favourable effects of sertraline in human depression remain to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cervo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grignaschi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samanin
mesh_terms: D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D016627:Oxidopamine; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020280:Sertraline; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D016627:Oxidopamine; D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D020280:Sertraline