The Antidepressant Actions of 3-Hydroxypyridine and Succinic Acid Derivatives in Experimental Studies

Abstract

Objective. To study the antidepressant activity of original Russian derivatives of 3-hydroxypyridine and succinic acid (emoxypine, Reamberin, and Mexidol) in experiments on rats. Materials and methods. The effects of emoxypine, Reamberin, and Mexidol on the duration of “despair behavior” were studied in rats in the Porsolt forced swimming test. The effects of study drugs on the animals’ behavior in the open field test were also studied. Amitriptyline and α-lipoic acid were used as reference agents. Results and conclusions. Three optimum doses of each of the study drugs, corresponding to the therapeutic range in humans, were found to decrease the duration of despair behavior in the Porsolt test. This effect of emoxypine, Reamberin, Mexidol, and α-lipoic acid provide evidence of their antidepressant activity, the extent of which depended on the actions of the study drugs in the open field. Reamberin and α-lipoic acid, the maximal doses of which either had no effect on orientational activity in the open field (Reamberin) or suppressed it (α-lipoic acid), were no less active than amitriptyline in terms of the extent of the antidepressant effect. 3-Hydroxypyridine derivatives (emoxypine and Mexidol), which had stimulatory actions on activity in the open field test, were significantly less active than amitriptyline in decreasing the duration of despair behavior.