Effects of anti-depressants on olfactory sensitivity in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Some studies have underlined a decrease in olfactory sensitivity in patients suffering from depression. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of current anti-depressant drugs on the olfactory sensitivity in mice. METHODS MICE: (N degrees =22) were tested in a Y-maze with a choice between an odorant (butanol) or distilled water before and during 3 weeks of daily intra-peritoneal injection of either citalopram or clomipramine. Their performance was compared with those of a control group (N degrees =11) injected with a saline solution.


RESULTS
The results showed a significant decrease in olfactory sensitivity with both anti-depressants during the three weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The antidepressant induced alteration in serotonin and/or noradrenaline transmission in the olfactory bulb may account for the altered olfactory sensitivity observed in this study.
Lombion
Sandrine
S
Laboratoire de Neurosciences, Université de Franche-Comté, 1 Place Leclerc, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
Morand-Villeneuve
Nadège
N
Millot
Jean-Louis
JL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009812:Odorants; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D002997:Clomipramine