title: Involvement of sigma-1 receptor modulation in the antidepressant action of venlafaxine.
abstract: Multiple lines of investigation have explored the role of sigma receptors in mental depression. Sigma receptors particularly, sigma-1 subtype is known to modulate the release of various catecholamines in the brain and may play, in some way, a role in the mechanism of action of various antidepressants. The present study investigated the possible involvement of sigma receptors in modulating the antidepressant-like effect of venlafaxine (dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) in the mouse forced swim test (FST). Immobility period in the forced swim test was registered for a total period of 6 min. Venlafaxine produced dose-dependent (4-16 mg/kg, i.p.) reduction in immobility period. Pretreatment of mice with (+)-pentazocine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), a high-affinity sigma-1 receptor agonist, produced synergism with subeffective dose of venlafaxine (2 mg/kg, i.p.). On the contrary, pretreatment with progesterone (10 mg/kg, s.c.), a sigma-1 receptor antagonist neurosteroid, rimcazole (5 mg/kg, i.p.), another sigma-1 receptor antagonist, or BD 1047 (1 mg/kg, i.p.), a novel sigma-1 receptor antagonist, reversed the anti-immobility effects of venlafaxine (8 mg/kg i.p.). The various modulators used in the study did not produce any changes in locomotor activity per se except venlafaxine which at higher dose (16 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the locomotor activity in mice. The results for the first time demonstrated that the anti-immobility effects of venlafaxine in the FST possibly involve an interaction with sigma-1 receptors.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Punjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010423:Pentazocine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000187:drug effects*; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D002227:Carbazoles; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010423:Pentazocine; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor; C097963:N-(2-(3,4-Dichlorphenyl)ethyl)-N,N',N'-trimethyl-1,2-ethandiamin; C034931:rimcazole