Abstract
Rationale: Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) produce clinical therapeutic effects on depression and anxiety through augmentation of serotonergic neurotransmission, there is little known about the potential contributions of the 5-HT6 receptor in the treatment of mood disorders. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the potential antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of the 5-HT6 receptor agonists WAY-208466 and WAY-181187 using established behavioral tests in rats. Methods: In order to determine if the 5-HT6 receptor agonists possess antidepressant-like activity, rats were treated with WAY-208466 or WAY-181187 and tested in the modified rat forced swim test (FST). Also, the potential anxiolytic-like effects of WAY-208466 and WAY-181187 were measured using the defensive burying (DB) test and novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) test. Results: WAY-208466 and WAY-181187 produced both antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects. Both compounds decreased immobility and increased swimming behavior in the FST. The effects of the 5-HT6 receptor agonists were similar to those seen after treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine. Both 5-HT6 receptor agonists also decreased burying duration in the DB test, indicative of anxiolytic activity in the test. The anxiolytic effects of WAY-208466 were reproduced in the NIH test. Assessment of the anxiolytic effects of WAY-181187 in the NIH was confounded by alterations in home cage feeding behavior. Conclusions: These findings suggest that 5-HT6 receptor agonists may represent a new class of potential antidepressant and anxiolytic compounds and could possess a number of advantages over currently available treatments, including rapid onset of anxiolytic efficacy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 499-507 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 213 |
Issue number | 2-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- 5-HT receptor
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Defensive burying
- Depression
- Forced swim test
- Noveltyinduced hypophagia
- Serotonin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology