Acute effect of pregabalin on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in adult rats in a pharmacologic model of depression; [Efeito agudo da pregabalina nos comportamentos depressivos e ansiosos em ratos adultos em um modelo farmacológico de depressão]

Lucich A.C.; Salazar A.B.C.; Matsuda V.V.; Cueva K.M.Y.; Carrillo J.S.; Mercado G.O. · Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Quimico-Farmaceuticas(Colombia) (2023) · DOI: 10.15446/rcciquifa.v52n3.111080

Resumen

Introduction: Due to lack of effective and fast-acting therapy, depression can become a life-threatening condition if not treated adequately. In fibromyalgia animal models, pregabalin has shown antidepressant properties. Compared to fluoxetine, the unusual fast-acting antidepressant properties of pregabalin offers the possibility to explore this GABA analogue in the context of depression. Objective: we evaluated the acute effect of pregabalin in a reserpine-induced animal models of depression. Method: rats were organized into four groups regarding their planned drug regimen: control (C), reserpine (R), reserpine + fluoxetine (RF) and reserpine + pregabalin (RP). The C group received only saline throughout the study. Depressive and anxiety-like behavior were tested using the force swimming test (FST) and the open field test (OFT), respectively. Results: Our data shows that both RP and RF groups have a significant longer mobility time (seconds) than the C group during the FST (RP: 44.76 ± 8.37 and RF: 65.86 ± 34.10 vs C: 21.80 ± 11.10, p<0.05 for both). No significant differences were observed in immobility time and climbing across all groups (p>0.05). On the other hand, RF and RP groups showed a reduced time spent in the center of the arena compared to control (p<0.05) in OFT, suggesting increased anxiety-like behavior. Conclusion: Our results show that pregabalin has an acute effect on depressive and can also acutely exert an unexpected anxiety-like behavior as well. Our work reveals an unexpected outcome in the search for fast-acting antidepressants. © (2023), (Universidad Nacional de Colombia). All rights reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista