Antidepressant behavioral effects of duloxetine and fluoxetine in the rat forced swimming test.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of the antidepressant drugs duloxetine and fluoxetine on depressive behaviors in rodents.


METHODS
Eighteen male Wistar rats were given systemic injections of duloxetine, fluoxetine, or saline prior to a Forced Swimming Test (FST). Immobility and number of stops were measured.


RESULTS
Rats given injections of fluoxetine displayed significantly less immobility (p = 0.02) and fewer stops than the control group (p = 0.003). Duloxetine significantly reduced the number of stops (p = 0.003), but did not effect immobility (p = 0.48).


CONCLUSIONS
Duloxetine and fluoxetine reduced depressive behaviors in the Forced FST. However, our findings suggest that fluoxetine is more effective than duloxetine.
Ciulla
Leandro
L
Experimental Medicine Group, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Menezes
Honório Sampaio
HS
Bueno
Bárbara Beatriz Moreira
BB
Schuh
Alexandre
A
Alves
Rafael José Vargas
RJ
Abegg
Milena Pacheco
MP
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D013876:Thiophenes; D005473:Fluoxetine; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride