Antidepressant-like effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in rats.
Behav Pharmacol
; 19(7): 747-50, 2008 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18797252
ABSTRACT
Oxidative stress disturbances have been reported in depressed patients and in animals submitted to stress. Recent evidence suggests that antidepressants may have antioxidant properties. However, the therapeutic potential of antioxidants as antidepressant drugs has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cysteine prodrug with powerful antioxidant activity, would possess antidepressant-like properties in the forced swimming test. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 15 min of forced swimming and immediately afterward, 5, and 23 h later received intraperitoneal injections of NAC (5, 15, 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg), imipramine, (15 mg/kg) or vehicle. One hour later they were submitted to the 5 min test swimming session, where immobility time was recorded. Independent groups of animals received the same treatments and their exploratory activity was measured in an open arena for 5 min. NAC (at the doses of 15, 50, and 150 mg/kg) and imipramine induced a significant decrease in immobility time without changing exploratory behavior measured in an open arena. These results suggest that antioxidants such as NAC may have antidepressant effects.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Acetilcisteína
/
Depuradores de Radicales Libres
/
Reacción de Fuga
/
Motivación
/
Actividad Motora
/
Antidepresivos
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Behav Pharmacol
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
FARMACOLOGIA
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Brasil