Citation

Sabatino M, Cannizzaro C, Flugy A, Gagliand M, Mineo A, Cannizzaro G. Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol. 1994; 4(2): 103-109.

Affiliation

Institute of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Policlinico P. Giaccone, University of Palermo, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7919939

Abstract

We studied the effects of desipramine, alprazolam, muscimol and dizocilpine (MK-801) (alone or associated with desipramine) in the forced swimming test in rats after long-lasting termination of chronic exposure to vehicle and pentylenetetrazol. Sensitisation with pentylenetetrazol was ineffective in changing immobility time in the forced swimming test compared to vehicle treatment; pentylenetetrazol enhanced the anti-immobility effect of desipramine, abolished the anti-immobility effect of alprazolam and did not affect the anti-immobility effect of muscimol. MK-801 at the dose that did not modify immobility time in vehicle-treated rats and in pentylenetetrazol-treated animals strongly potentiated the anti-immobility effect of desipramine in pentylenetetrazol-treated rats. MK-801 in association with desipramine induced a marked hyperlocomotion and hyperexcitability, with swaying movements and oral stereotypies in pentylenetetrazol-sensitised rats. Results are considered the experimental representation of a 'gating mechanism' toward psychotic-like symptoms.

Language: en