Estradiol valerate elicits antidepressant-like effects in middle-aged female rats under chronic mild stress.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the antidepressant-like actions of estradiol valerate (1 or 2 mg/rat, single injection) or citalopram (5 or 10 mg/kg, chronically administered for 21 days) given independently or combined at low doses, to middle-aged ovariectomized female rats, as a model of human menopause. Animals were exposed to chronic mild stress, a model of depression that mimics anhedonia as revealed by diminished sucrose solution intake. Stressed rats decreased their sucrose preference 1 week after chronic stress and treatment with vehicle did not reverse this reduction. A single injection of estradiol valerate (2 mg/rat) produced an antidepressant-like action, evidenced as an increase in sucrose preference specific to stressed rats. Chronic citalopram (10 mg/kg) produced an antidepressant-like effect after 1 week. A single low-dose of estradiol valerate (1 mg/rat) did not potentiate or shorten the latency of action of chronic citalopram (5 mg/kg). These results reveal the antidepressant-like action of estrogens in middle-aged rats exposed to chronic stress. These data may be of importance for clinical depression in menopausal women.
Romano-Torres
Mónica
M
Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios, Avanzados del IPN. Calzada de los Tenorios, Col. Granjas Coapa, Tlalpan, México City, México.
Fernández-Guasti
Alonso
A
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D004958:Estradiol