A Comparative Survey of the Effects of Fluoxetine and Imipramine on Depression-Like Behavior and Serum Levels of Corticosterone and Glucose in Male Rats under Immobilization Stress

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, which can be detected and continued through stressful life events. Since the medical treatment of depression, is longterm use of antidepressants, therefore, this research was performed to compare the effects of fluoxetine and imipramine on depression. Methods:In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats (age range, 180±20gr), were used. Animals were divided into four groups of 6 each, including: Control, under immobilization stress, fluoxetinetreated (dose, 20mg/kg), and the Imipramine-treated (dose, 30mg/kg). Induction of immobilization stress was conducted by limiting polyethylene for 14 days. At the end of the treatment period, the antidepressant effects of the drugs in the treatment groups, were evaluated using tail suspension test. Then, serum levels of corticosterone and glucose, were measured. Results:In this study, the immobility time in the patient group significantly increased as compared to the control group. However, administration of fluoxetine and imipramine decreased immobility time compared to the patient group. Also, immobilization stress significantly decreased corticosterone and serum glucose compared to the control group. While, administration of fluoxetine increased corticosterone levels compared to the patient group, but administration of imipramine induced no change. Administration of fluoxetine or imipramine also increased glucose levels compared to the patient group. Conclusion:The results showed that immobilization stress causes depression-like behavior, and fluoxetine compared to imipramine has more improving effects in the reduction of depression-like behavior.

The effect of fluoxetine and imipramine on the improvement of depressive-like behaviors and HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex) activity – an animal model

“…In addition, long-term antidepressant chemical use can result in more side effects. Therefore, a medication with higher efficacy properties and fewer side effects is necessary [19]. Because of the above reasons, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate study was to evaluate the efficacy of two well-known antidepressants, fluoxetine and imipramine (Fig.…”

“…3). The amount and method of administering drugs to control and patient rats were based on previous similar studies [17][18][19]. Fig.…”

“…Immobility time was usually defined as the lack of limb and foot movements, while swimming time was defined as the rotational movements of the animal around the container. The whole test lasted 6 minutes, the first 2 minutes used to allow the animal to adapt to its environments, and the remaining 4 minutes used to monitor and record each immobility and swimming response in seconds using a stopwatch [18][19][20][21].…”

“…In this test, as in FST, the immobility time, depressive equivalents and reduction of time equivalent to antidepressant effect was recorded by a stopwatch in seconds. The overall test time was 6 minutes; the first 2 minutes were used to allow the animal to adapt to the environment, and the next 4 minutes were used to record the immobility time [17][18][19].…”

“…For 14 days, rats were housed or kept at a specific time of day (8-10 am) to avoid other stress factors such as noise, light changes, and temperature changes as much as possible. The rats were returning to their cages in groups of ten after being stressed [19,22].…”