Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, affects thirst, salt appetite and plasma levels of oxytocin and vasopressin in rats.
We investigated the effects of chronic administration of sertraline (SERT; approximately 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1) in drinking water), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on water and sodium intake and on plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in basal and stimulated conditions. Basal water intake was reduced in SERT-treated rats. After 24 h of water deprivation, rats treated with SERT for 21 days ingested less water than the control rats (9.7 +/- 0.5 versus 20.0 +/- 0.9 ml, respectively, at 300 min after water presentation, P < 0.0001). Subcutaneous injection of 2 m NaCl or isoproterenol evoked a lower dipsogenic response in rats treated with SERT for 21 days. Fluid and food deprivation also induced a weaker dipsogenic response in SERT-treated rats (1.6 +/- 0.5 versus 10.2 +/- 1.2 ml, at 300 min, P < 0.0001) but had no effect on saline intake. Sodium depletion induced a higher natriorexigenic response in the SERT group (5.6 +/- 1.3 versus 1.2 +/- 0.3 ml, at 300 min, P < 0.0002). Higher urinary density and lower plasma sodium levels were observed after SERT treatment. Sertraline also increased plasma levels of vasopressin and oxytocin (AVP, 2.65 +/- 0.36 versus 1.31 +/- 0.16 pg ml(-1), P < 0.005; OT, 17.16 +/- 1.06 versus 11.3 +/- 1.03 pg ml(-1), P < 0.0009, at the third week post-treatment). These data constitute the first evidence that chronic SERT treatment affects water and sodium intake in rats. These effects seem to be related to the hyponatraemia caused by the higher plasma levels of AVP and OT.
de Magalhães-Nunes
Ana Paula
AP
Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biology, UFRuralRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
Badauê-Passos
Daniel
D
Ventura
Renato Rizo
RR
Guedes
Daniel da Silva
Dda S
Araújo
Jacqueline Pereira
JP
Granadeiro
Priscila Camargo
PC
Milanez-Barbosa
Hevellyn Katarine
HK
da Costa-e-Sousa
Ricardo Henrique
RH
de Medeiros
Magda Alves
MA
Antunes-Rodrigues
José
J
Reis
Luís Carlos
LC
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005508:Food Deprivation; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013894:Thirst / Q000187:drug effects*; D014556:Urine; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood*; D014868:Water Deprivation
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D007545:Isoproterenol; D010121:Oxytocin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014667:Vasopressins