Evaluation of the role of NMDA receptor function in antidepressant-like activity. A new study with citalopram and fluoxetine in the forced swim test in mice

Małgorzata Wolak; Agata Siwek; Bernadeta Szewczyk; Ewa Poleszak; Beata Bystrowska; Andrzej Moniczewski; Anita Rutkowska; Katarzyna Młyniec; Gabriel Nowak

doi:10.1016/j.pharep.2014.12.003

Evaluation of the role of NMDA receptor function in antidepressant-like activity. A new study with citalopram and fluoxetine in the forced swim test in mice

Pharmacol Rep. 2015 Jun;67(3):490-3. doi: 10.1016/j.pharep.2014.12.003. Epub 2014 Dec 17.

Authors

Małgorzata Wolak¹, Agata Siwek¹, Bernadeta Szewczyk², Ewa Poleszak³, Beata Bystrowska⁴, Andrzej Moniczewski⁴, Anita Rutkowska⁴, Katarzyna Młyniec⁵, Gabriel Nowak⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland; Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
² Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
³ Department of Applied Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
⁴ Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
⁵ Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland; Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
⁶ Department of Pharmacobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland; Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: nowak@if-pan.krakow.pl.

PMID: 25933959
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2014.12.003

Abstract

Background: The NMDA/glutamate receptors are involved in the mechanism of antidepressant activity.

Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of NMDA receptor ligands (agonists and antagonists of glutamate sites) on the antidepressant-like activity of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), citalopram and fluoxetine, in the forced swim test in mice.

Results: The antidepressant activity (reduction in immobility time) of citalopram but not of fluoxetine was antagonized by N-methyl-D-aspartate acid and enhanced by CGP37849 (antagonist of the NMDA receptor).

Conclusions: The present literature data indicate that the antidepressant-like activity of conventional antidepressants is generally affected by the NMDA receptor, although by modulation from different sites of the complex. Thus, it supports the issue of the ability of NMDA receptor antagonists to enhance the antidepressant action in human depression.

Keywords: CGP 37849; Citalopram; Fluoxetine; Forced swim test; NMDA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / analogs & derivatives
2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / pharmacology
Animals
Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
Citalopram / therapeutic use*
Depression / drug therapy*
Depression / psychology
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
Fluoxetine / therapeutic use*
Male
Mice
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / agonists
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology*
Swimming* / psychology

Substances

Antidepressive Agents
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Fluoxetine
Citalopram
2-amino-4-methyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid
2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate