The aim of this study has been to investigate the effects of vasopressin and oxytocin on antidepressive and memory improving effects of venlafaxine. Male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were used in the study. Venlafaxine (20 mg/kg) was administered po 30 min before the test once, and for 7 and 14 days in the chronic experiments. Oxytocin (1 microg/kg) ip and vasopressin (1 microg/kg) sc were ad...

OBJECTIVES Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a frequently reported side-effect of antidepressant treatment, particularly of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In the multicentre clinical and pharmacogenetic GENDEP study (Genome-based Therapeutic Drugs for Depression), the effect of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism 5-HTTLPR on sexual function was investigated during tr...

Objective: Rosa damascena mill L (R. damascena) is a medicinal plant mostly known in the world for its perfume. It also has beneficial effects on stress, tension and depression. In this experiment antidepressant effect of ethanolic extract of R. damascena by forced swimming test (FST) was evaluated. Material and Methods: Animals received ethanolic extract (15, 60 and 90 mg/kg, i.p), imipramine ...

Oxytocin is a neuromodulator with antidepressant-like effects. In vitro, oxytocin is rapidly cleaved by insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). Oxytocin metabolites are known to exert strong central activities that are different from the effects of the parent molecule. Our goal is to investigate in vivo whether IRAP deletion modifies the antidepressant-like effects of oxytocin. Male and female...

OBJECTIVES To examine and record the clinical antidepressant effect of exogenous agmatine, an amino acid derived central glutamaergic modulator in endogenously depressed subjects. It was also the author's intention to examine the effects of parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) in therapeutic responders to determine if serotonergic mechanisms mediate agmatine's antidepressant effect. Methodology Exoge...

Voluntary exercise is known to have an antidepressant effect. However, the underlying mechanism for this antidepressant action of exercise remains unclear, and little progress has been made in identifying genes that are directly involved. We have identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) by analyzing existing mRNA microarray data and confirmed the augmented expression of selected ...

OBJECTIVES Studies indicate that major deficiency in the levels of monoaminergic transmitters is a reason for severe depression. On the other hand, it is shown that Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) may improve neuropsychological injuries by regulation of the monoamine transporter action. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the involvement of monoaminergic systems in antidepressant-l...

Treatment with different antidepressants is invariably accompanied by the down-regulation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor. To determine whether receptor down-regulation is an essential part of antidepressant action, we manipulated levels of the 5-HT2A receptor by using a nonpharmacological approach. Here, we report that down-regulation of the 5-HT2A receptor by intracerebroventri...

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (FLX), are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of major depression. However, there is a limited understanding of their molecular mechanism of action. Although the acute effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in elevating synaptic serotonin concentrations is well known, the clinical amelioration of depressive sympto...

Regular exercise has an antidepressant effect in human subjects. Studies using animals have suggested that the antidepressant effect of exercise is attributable to an increase of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT); however, the precise mechanism underlying the antidepressant action via exercise is unclear. In contrast, the effect of 5-HT on antidepressant activity has not been clarified, in part ...