title: Antidepressant-like effects of the xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitor allopurinol in rats. A comparison with fluoxetine.
abstract: Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitor that is widely used for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. The activity of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, which metabolizes tryptophan (TRP), is decreased by xanthine oxidase inhibitors, causing TRP levels in the body to be increased. Increases in TRP levels in the brain might have antidepressant effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antidepressant effects of allopurinol compared to those of fluoxetine, which is a proven antidepressant. Thirty-two Wistar albino male rats were divided into four groups (control, 10mg/kg fluoxetine, 50mg/kg allopurinol, 50mg/kg allopurinol+10 mg/kg fluoxetine; n=8 per group), and forced swimming tests were performed before and after 14days of drug administration. Serotonin, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and uric acid levels were measured in blood samples after the final treatment. When allopurinol and fluoxetine were administered separately, a decrease in the duration of immobility and an increased duration of swimming were observed in the forced swimming test. The results showed similar antidepressant efficacies between allopurinol and fluoxetine. However, we found no statistically significant difference in the antidepressant effect of the combined therapy versus single drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey; Department of Pharmacology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey. Electronic address: borte.gurbuz@adu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Börte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gürbüz Özgür
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey. Electronic address: hatice.aksu@adu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey. Electronic address: drmbirincioglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birincioğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey. Electronic address: turhandost@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Turhan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dost
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005473:Fluoxetine; D014527:Uric Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D000493:Allopurinol; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase
keywords: Allopurinol; Depression; Fluoxetine; Forced swimming test; Serotonin; Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase