R. Cesana et al., MESULERGINE ANTAGONISM TOWARDS THE FLUOXETINE ANTI-IMMOBILITY EFFECT IN THE FORCED SWIMMING TEST IN MICE, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 45(5), 1993, pp. 473-475
The anti-immobility effect of fluoxetine (40 mg kg-1) in the forced sw
imming test in mice was antagonized by the 5-HT1c/2 antagonist mesuler
gine (7.5 mg kg-1) and the dopamine D2 antagonist (+/-)-sulpiride (12.
5 mg kg-1) but not by the 5-HT2/1C antagonist ritanserine (2 mg kg-1),
the 5-HT1A/1B antagonist (-)-propranolol (20 mg kg-1) or the 5-HT3 an
tagonist DAU 6215 (0.1 mg kg-1). All compounds were administered intra
peritoneally (i.p.) 6 min before fluoxetine, given i-p. 30 min before
testing. The anti-immobility effect of fluoxetine was also prevented b
y pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg kg-1 twice daily for
3 days) which produced an 80% reduction of 5-HT in brain. The results
suggest that fluoxetine reduces immobility time in mice forced to swi
m, by acting indirectly through a mesulergine-sensitive site, probably
the 5-HT1C receptor.