Effects of sibutramine on anxiety-related behaviours in rats.
Sibutramine is an anorexiant drug that inhibits the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, a pharmacological property shared with drugs clinically effective in treating anxiety pathologies. However, the effects of this compound on experimental and clinical anxiety have not been assessed yet. In this study, we evaluated the effects of sibutramine on anxiety-related behaviours which have been related to specific anxiety disorders. Acute injection of sibutramine (5, 10 or 20 mg kg(-1); intraperitoneally) in male Wistar rats impaired inhibitory avoidance in the elevated T-maze (ETM) and in the light/dark transition test, indicative of an anxiolytic effect. The drug also inhibited one-way escape in the ETM. Sibutramine, however, was ineffective in changing rat performance in the elevated plus-maze. Therefore, sibutramine decreased the expression of defensive behaviours that have been associated with generalized anxiety disorder (inhibitory avoidance) and with panic disorder (one-way escape). Yet, in contrast to what has been reported with drugs such as the tricyclic anti-depressants that also inhibit monoamine reuptake, the anxiolytic effects of sibutramine were revealed after a single administration.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Salim Demétrio
SD
Jorge
Roger Luís Henschel
RL
Pobbe
Vanessa
V
de Paula Soares
Ana Maria
AM
de Oliveira
Hélio
H
Zangrossi
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003624:Darkness / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008029:Lighting / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D003503:Cyclobutanes; C058254:sibutramine