title: Human interferon-alpha increases immobility in the forced swimming test in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the immobility of the forced swimming test induced in an animal model by human interferon (IFN), which has often been reported to induce depression in clinical use.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we examined the effects of human IFNs on results of the forced swimming test in rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single intravenous (IV) administration of human IFN-alpha (6x10(4) IU/kg), but not of human IFN-beta or -gamma, significantly increased immobility time in the forced swimming test in rats. Repeated administration of human IFN-alpha (6x10(3) IU/kg) also significantly increased the immobility time. On the other hand, none of the rat IFNs (rat IFN-alpha, -beta and -gamma, 6x10(4) IU/kg, IV) changed the immobility time. Neither human IFNs nor rat IFNs changed the locomotor activity of rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that human IFN-alpha has a greater potential for inducing increase of the immobility in the rat forced swimming test than human IFN-beta and -gamma, and that the effect of human IFN-alpha might not be mediated through IFN-alpha/beta receptors.
authors.affiliation: Drug Safety Research Laboratory, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 16-13, Kita-Kasai 1-Chome, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan. makinald@daiichipharm.co.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takasuna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma