EFFECTS OF FLUOXETINE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LUNG METASTASES INDUCED BY OPERATIVE STRESS IN RATS

Experiments were performed in order to evaluate the effects of fluoxet ine, a selective inhibitor of neural serotonin transporter antidepress ant, on the development lung metastases in rats subjected to laparotom y and injected (i.v.) with 10(4) Walker 256 (W-256) carcinosarcoma cel ls. The number of metastatic nodules on the surface of the lungs, as w ell as the percentage area of metastases in the frontal section throug h pulmonary hilus were increased in rats subjected to sham-surgery or laparotomy. Treatment with fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) partially reversed tho se adverse effects of surgery, but the difference was clearer when it was administered before surgery was performed. Survival periods were a lso assessed and fluoxetine was found to decrease the lethality of rat s exposed to surgery. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.