Antidepressant-like effect of 7-nitroindazole
in the forced swimming test in rats
by
Yildiz F, Erden BF, Ulak G, Utkan T, Gacar N
Kocaeli University,
Faculty of Medicine,
Department of Pharmacology, Turkey.
ferden@ato.org.tr
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2000 Mar; 149(1):41-4

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: There is some strong evidence about the role of nitric oxide (NO) as an intercellular messenger in central physiological mechanisms. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), as a response to activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by excitatory amino acids. NMDA receptor antagonists also produce antidepressant-like actions in preclinical models. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the involvement of NO in the mechanism of depression was investigated. 7-Nitroindazole (7-NI) (15, 30, 60, 90 mg/kg IP), a selective inhibitor of neuronal NOS was examined. METHODS: The Porsolt forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a test for screening new antidepressant agents. RESULTS: 7-NI dose-dependently decreased the immobility time in FST, but produced no significant change in locomotor activity in naive rats. Neither L-arginine, nor D-arginine (100 mg/kg) affected the immobility time in the FST or revealed any effect on locomotion. L-Arginine but not D-arginine, given 10 min before 7-NI, reversed the 7-NI-induced effect on immobility time. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that NO might be an important modulator of depression in rats.

SAMe
Arginase
Agmatine
Noradrenaline
Buprenorphine
Vagus stimulation
New antidepressants
Substance P inhibitors
Nitric oxide in depression
Bupropion and nitric oxide
Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors
NO, BDNF, exercise and antidepressants

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