Anti-depressant like Effect of Pimozide in Acute and Chronic Animal Models of Depression

Abstract

The hope of developing better antidepressants has stimulated research on 5-HT receptor, capable of producing diverse antidepressant-like 7 behavioral effects. In the current study, the pimozide, a novel 5-HT receptor antagonist, was screened for its antidepressant potential in 7 rodent's behavioral test battery. Psycho-pharmacological investigations involved acute and chronic treatment (14 days) of pimozide in forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) in mice and olfactory bulbectomy in rats, respectively. Dose response study in mice FST and TST revealed the initial antidepressant-like effect of pimozide (0.5-4mg/kg i.p.). Interaction studies revealed that pimozide (1and 2mg/kg) significantly enhanced the antidepressant action of citalopram and bupropion in mice FST and TST respectively. Reversal of reserpine induced hypothermia (rats) was observed at same dose level. Further, the behavior anomalies exhibited by olfactory bulbectomised rats (OBX) were attenuated by chronic pimozide treatment as observed in open field and hyper-emotionality tests. In conclusion, this behavioural study depicts the antidepressant-like effect of pimozide in rodent's behavioural model.