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Effects of single and combined gabapentin use in elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2014

Fatma Sultan Kilic ,
Sule Ismailoglu ,
Bilgin Kaygisiz  and
Setenay Oner
Fatma Sultan Kilic*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Sule Ismailoglu
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Bilgin Kaygisiz
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Setenay Oner
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
*
Prof. Dr. Fatma Sultan Kilic, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pharmacology, Meselik, Eskisehir, Turkey. Tel: +0 222 239 2979/4564; Fax: +90 222 239 3772; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Gabapentin, a third-generation antiepileptic drug, is a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid, which is an important mediator of central nervous system. There is clinical data indicating its effectiveness in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects and mechanisms of gabapentin in rats.

Material and Methods

Female Spraque–Dawley rats weighing 250±20 g were used. A total of 13 groups were formed, each containing 8 rats: gabapentin (5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg), amitriptyline (10 mg/kg), sertraline (5 mg/kg), diazepam (5 mg/kg), ketamine (10 mg/kg), gabapentin 20 mg/kg was also combined with amitriptyline (10 mg/kg), sertraline (5 mg/kg), diazepam (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (10 mg/kg). All the drugs were used intraperitoneally as single dose. Saline was administered to the control group. Elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests were used as experimental models of anxiety and depression, respectively.

Results

It was observed that gabapentin showed an anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effect in all doses in rats. Its antidepressant effect was found to be the same as the antidepressant effects of amitriptyline and sertraline. There was no change in the antidepressant effect when gabapentin was combined with amitriptyline and ketamine, but there was an increase when combined with sertraline and diazepam. Gabapentin and amitriptyline showed similar anxiolytic effect, whereas ketamine and diazepam had more potent anxiolytic effect compared with them.

Conclusions

These data suggest that gabapentin may possess antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects.

Keywords

antidepressantanxiolyticelevated plus mazeforced swimming testgabapentin
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 307 - 314
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2014 

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