Srl. Joca et al., The antidepressive-like effect of oxcarbazepine: possible role of dopaminergic neurotransmission, EUR NEUROPS, 10(4), 2000, pp. 223-228
It has been previously shown that oxcarbazepine (OXCBZ), a keto-analogue of
carbamazepine, exhibits an antidepressive-like effect profile in the learn
ed helplessness and forced swimming test (FST). Since carbamazepine possess
es dopaminergic effect, the present study was carried out to evaluate the e
xtent to which the antidepressive effect of OXCBZ might be mediated by dopa
minergic system. Thus, the effects of OXCBZ in haloperidol-induced cataleps
y and apomorphine-induced stereotypy were studied. The anti-immobility effe
ct of OXCBZ in the FST was also evaluated in haloperidol pretreated rats. O
XCBZ (40 and 80 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently reduced the catalepsy induced
by haloperidol (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Moreover, OXCBZ (80 mg/kg, but not 20 or
40 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the intensity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy
(0.6 mg/kg, s.c.). Finally, it was observed that the combination of OXCBZ (
80 mg/kg, i.p.) and haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonized the anti-immo
bility effect of OXCBZ and further increased the immobility time when compa
red to haloperidol alone. Haloperidol alone (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) did not chan
ge the immobility time. Thus, these results suggest that OXCBZ could enhanc
e dopaminergic neurotransmission, which might mediate its antidepressive-li
ke effect. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.