The Involvement of Nmda Receptor/No/Cgmp Pathway in the Antidepressant Like Effects of Baclofen in Mouse Force Swimming Test Publisher Pubmed



Khan MI^{1, 2, 5} ; Ostadhadi S^{2, 3} ; Zolfaghari S⁴ ; Ejtemaei Mehr S^{1, 2} ; Hassanzadeh G⁵ ; Dehpour AR^{1, 2, 3} Show Affiliations
Source: Neuroscience Letters Published:2016

Abstract

In the current study, the involvement of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) system in the antidepressant-like effects of baclofen was evaluated by using animal model in forced swimming test. Followed by an open field test for the evaluation of locomotor activity, the immobility time for mice in force swimming test was recorded. Only the last four min was analyzed. Administration of Baclofen (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the immobility interval in the FST. Prior administration of l-arginine (750 mg/kg, i.p.,) a nitric oxide synthase substrate or sildenafil (5 mg/kg, i.p.) a phosphodiesterase 5 into mice suppressed the antidepressant-like activity of baclofen (1 mg/kg, i.p.).Co-treatment of 7-nitroindazole (50 mg/kg, i.p.,) an inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p.,) a non-specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase or MK-801 (0.05 mg/kg, i.p.) an NMDA receptor antagonist with subeffective dose of baclofen (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), reduced the immobility time in the FST as compared to the drugs when used alone. Co-administrated of lower doses of MK-801 (0.01 mg/kg) or l-NAME (1 mg/kg) failed to effect immobility time however, simultaneous administration of these two agents in same dose with subeffective dose of baclofen (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), minimized the immobility time in the FST. Thus, our results support the role of NMDA receptors and l-arginine-NO-GMP pathway in the antidepressant-like action of baclofen. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.