Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2-2018
Journal / Book Title
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the antidepressant activity of vortioxetine in a tryptophan (TRP) depletion female rat model of depression and compare it to that of paroxetine using doses that fully occupy the serotonin transporter (SERT). We evaluated the effects of vortioxetine on potential biomarkers associated with TRP depletion including serum aldosterone, corticosterone and IL-6 levels together with indirect indicators of glutamate neurotransmission. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to control, low TRP, low TRP/paroxetine or low TRP/vortioxetine groups. Vortioxetine and paroxetine were administered via diet (10 mg/kg/day) and drinking water (10 mg/kg/day) respectively for 14 days. Vortioxetine but not paroxetine reversed TRP depletion-induced depressive-like behavior. Vortioxetine reduced TRP depletion-induced increases of serum corticosterone, aldosterone, IL-6 and N-methyl-D-aspartate and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in the amygdala and hippocampus, respectively. Paroxetine demonstrated little effect except a reduction of aldosterone. Vortioxetine but not paroxetine reversed TRP depletion-induced reductions of serum and brain kynurenic acid. In conclusion, vortioxetine, but not paroxetine, enabled reversals of TRP depletion-induced changes of depression-like behavior and markers of glutamatergic activity. These observations support the hypothesis that vortioxetine's antidepressant activity may involve mechanisms beyond SERT inhibition.
DOI
10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.07.008
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Hlavacova, N.; Li, Y.; Pehrson, Alan; Sanchez, Connie; Bermudez-Diaz, Isabel; Csanova, Agnesa; Jezova, Daniela; and Franklin, Michael, "Effects of Vortioxetine On Biomarkers Associated with Glutamatergic Activity in An SSRI Insensitive Model of Depression in Female Rats" (2018). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 202.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/202
Published Citation
Hlavacova, N., Li, Y., Pehrson, A., Sanchez, C., Bermudez, I., Csanova, A., ... & Franklin, M. (2018). Effects of vortioxetine on biomarkers associated with glutamatergic activity in an SSRI insensitive model of depression in female rats. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 82, 332-338.