Antidepressant-like effects of substances with cerebroprotective activity

Abstract

Studies of hippocampal slices of rats were show that non-competitive blocker of the NMDA glutamate receptor Ketamine (10 µM) and a selective inhibitor of COX-2 Nimesulide (10 µM) decrease a brain damages caused by excitotoxic action of NMDA (50 µM) and procedures of anoxia/aglycaemia on hippocampal slices. The brain damages were appered by disturbance of transmission in Schaffer collaterals synapses and dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. Behavioral studies have shown that systemically administered Ketamine (5 mg/kg) and Nimesulide (5 mg/kg) reduced the period of immobilization of rats in the forced swimming test, but they increased the residence time of rats in the open sleeves of the elevated X-shaped maze. Social isolation of rats leads to depressive behavior. The manifestations of behavior depression of rats were decreased and it indicates antidepressant-like activity of testing substances.