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Interaction between estrogens and antidepressants in the forced swimming test in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Several reports suggest that estrogens possess antidepressant effects and could facilitate the action of some antidepressants.

Objective

To analyze the interaction between three different types of estrogens, 17β-estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2) or diethyl-stilbestrol (DES) and the antidepressants, fluoxetine (FLX) or desipramine (DMI) in ovariectomized female rats subjected to an animal model for the study of antidepressant compounds, the forced swimming test (FST).

Methods

The effect of the combination of a sub-optimal dose of FLX (2.5 mg/kg) or DMI (2.5 mg/kg) with a sub-active dose of E2 (10 μg/kg), EE2, (2.5 or 5 μg/kg) or DES (1 mg/kg) was analyzed in both the FST and the open field paradigm.

Results

The combination of a sub-optimal dose of E2 or DES with that of the antidepressant DMI resulted in a clear antidepressant-like effect, evidenced by a significant decrease in immobility accompanied by an increase in climbing behavior. Sub-optimal doses of either E2 or DES also facilitated the antidepressant-like effect of a sub-optimal dose of FLX. In this case, a decrease in immobility with a concomitant increase in swimming behavior was observed. Finally, the combination of EE2 with either DMI or FLX decreased immobility and induced an increase in both swimming and climbing behaviors. All combinations decreased rats’ locomotor activity when evaluated in the open field test.

Conclusion

In the FST estrogens were able to facilitate the action of two different kinds of antidepressants; however, these effects were dependent on the type of estrogen used.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank to Dr. Gabriela Rodríguez-Manzo for her comments on the manuscript, to Isabel Beltrán-Villalobos and José Manuel Pérez-Luna for technical assistance and Eli-Lilly Company (México) for their kind donation of FLX. The present work was partially supported by CONACyT grant 40895; EE-C received a doctoral fellowship from CONACyT (96 338).

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  1. Depto de Farmacobiología CINVESTAV-IPN, Calzada de los Tenorios 235, Col Granjas Coapa, Deleg Tlalpan, CP 14330, México DF, México

    Erika Estrada-Camarena, Alonso Fernández-Guasti & Carolina López-Rubalcava

  2. Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología conductual, Subdirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente”, México DF, México

    Erika Estrada-Camarena

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  1. Erika Estrada-Camarena
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  2. Alonso Fernández-Guasti
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Correspondence to Erika Estrada-Camarena.

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Estrada-Camarena, E., Fernández-Guasti, A. & López-Rubalcava, C. Interaction between estrogens and antidepressants in the forced swimming test in rats. Psychopharmacology 173, 139–145 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1707-4

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