Background: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), antidepressants commonly used in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin not only into neurons but also into platelets. Hence they increase the level of serotonin in plasma.
Objective: This study was aimed to clarify the effects of two selected SSRIs on plasma serotonin level, hemorheological parameters (hematocrit, erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation and plasma viscosity) and selected oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, GSSG levels in plasma and erythrocytes).
Methods: Two different SSRIs (Fluvoxamine and Sertraline) were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats in acute (5 days) or chronic fashion (21 days) at 20 mg/kg/day dose.
Results: Aggregation amplitude (AMP) decreased significantly in the chronic sertraline and acute fluvoxamine groups; aggregation half time (t1/2) decreased significantly in the chronic fluvoxamine group. Biochemical parameters indicating oxidative stress significantly increased in the chronic sertraline group.
Conclusions: Since SSRI's are commonly used in patients with CVDs, complementary studies are needed to assess the impact of such changes in hemorheological parameters on the risk for CVD, and to reveal the effects of other SSRIs on hemorheological parameters.
Keywords: GSH; GSSG; MAO; MDA; SOD; SSRI; blood viscosity; catalase; erythrocyte aggregation; erythrocyte deformability; glutathion reductase; glutathione S-transferase; glutathione peroxidase; hematocrit; hemorheology; plasma viscosity; serotonin.