title: Effects of the potential antidepressant dihydroergosine in rats forced to swim: influence on plasma corticosterone.
abstract: The potential antidepressant properties of the ergot alkaloid dihydroergosine (DHESN) were studied in rats forced to swim in a restricted space. DHESN (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) reduced the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim 1 hr after administration. This effect was still present after 48 hr, but 7 hr. In non-swimming rats, the same dose of DHESN increased the plasma corticosterone concentration when administered 1 hr prior to sacrifice, but was without effect 48 hr after administration. In rats forced to swim, DHESN elicited two opposite effects. One hr following a single administration, it increased plasma secretion of corticosterone, whereas administered 48 hr prior to forced swimming, it decreased plasma corticosterone. These results, along with our previous data, give evidence that DHESN might possess antidepressant properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manev
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pericic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004879:Ergotamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D004879:Ergotamines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C037580:9,10-dihydroergosine; D003345:Corticosterone