Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like activity of sodium selenite after acute treatment in mice.
BACKGROUND
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, that is needed for a broad variety of physiological functions including thyroid hormone metabolism, protection against oxidative stress, and immunity associated functions. Human nutritional Se deficiencies are associated with neuropsychiatric diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, obsessive - compulsive disorder, stroke, epilepsy as well as depressive behaviours. In this study we examined antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activity of Se in the inorganic form of sodium selenite and investigated whether Se influence on the locomotor activity in mice.


METHODS
The antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like activity of Se was assessed using forced swim test (FST) and elevated plus-maze test (EPM), respectively. Spontaneous locomotor activity was measured using photoresistor actimeters.


RESULTS
Sodium selenite administered at the doses of 0.5, 1, and 2mg/kg, ip reduced immobility time in the FST exerting antidepressant-like activity. In the EPM test, sodium selenite at the same doses, produced anxiolytic-like effect; the doses active in both tests did not affect locomotor activity, indicating that these effects of Se are specific.


CONCLUSIONS
These potential antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of Se require more detailed experimental study using animal models to approach a clear conclusion regarding the potential mechanism of the observed effect.
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: ewa.kedzierska@umlub.pl.
Ewa
E
Kędzierska
Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; Independent Medical Biology Unit, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Jarosław
J
Dudka
Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Ewa
E
Poleszak
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Jolanta H
JH
Kotlińska
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018038:Sodium Selenite
Elevated plus-maze test; Forced swim test; Locomotor activity; Mice; Sodium selenite