title: Characterisation of the antidepressant properties of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in the olfactory bulbectomised rat model of depression.
abstract: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors possess antidepressant-like properties in preclinical tests and in the current investigation the brain penetrant NOS inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine (l-NA) and the preferential inhibitor of neuronal NOS (nNOS) 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) imidazole (TRIM) were assessed in the olfactory bulbectomised (OB) rat, a well-established animal model of depression. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to assess regional brain volumes, blood perfusion and T1 and T2 relaxometry times both with and without drug treatment. l-NA (10 mg/kg, once daily p.o. for 10 days) attenuated OB-related hyperactivity in the "open field" test in a comparable fashion to the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine (20 mg/kg, once daily p.o. for 14 days) indicative of an antidepressant-like response in the model. Treatment with TRIM (50 mg/kg, once daily s.c.) attenuated OB-related hyperactivity following 7 days of treatment when compared to vehicle treated controls. OB is associated with enlarged ventricular volume, increased periventicular perfusion and a decrease in T2 relaxation times in cortical and hippocampal regions, with enhanced perfusion and reduced T2 times attenuated by L-NA treatment. L-NA treatment was also associated with an increase in T1 relaxation times in limbic and cortical regions and found to reduce resting state hippocampal blood perfusion in OB animals. Behavioural observations are consistent with an antidepressant action of NOS inhibitors where associated changes in perfusion and T2 relaxation times may be related to the antidepressant action of L-NA in the model.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: gigliucv@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gigliucci
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: sgormley@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gormley
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: gibneysi@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gibney
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: rouinej@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rouine
authors.affiliation: Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: kerskenc@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerskens
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: aharkin@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harkin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013113:Spin Labels; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013113:Spin Labels; D019335:Nitroarginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
keywords: Antidepressant; Depression; Magnetic resonance imaging; Nitric oxide synthase; Olfactory bulbectomised rat; Open field