Influence of protease inhibitors on the antidepressant activity of oxytocin.
Both in the behavioral despair test and in the learned helplessness test, the antidepressant-like activity of oxytocin (0.500 mg/Kg i.p.) was prevented by the administration of a protease inhibitor (EACA, 400 mg/Kg i.p.; pepstatin, 0.1 mg/Kg i.p.). On the other hand, the linear tripeptide tail of oxytocin, MIF-1, was inactive in the behavioral despair test, and less active than oxytocin in the learned helplessness test. We conclude that the antidepressant activity of oxytocin is due to its cleavage to some smaller fragment(s) different from MIF-1.
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009075:MSH Release-Inhibiting Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010121:Oxytocin; D009075:MSH Release-Inhibiting Hormone