Abstract
Rationale: Delta-opioid agonists produce a number of behavioral effects, including convulsions, antinociception, locomotor stimulation, and antidepressant-like effects. The development of these compounds as treatments for depression is limited by their convulsive effects. Therefore, determining how to separate the convulsive and antidepressant-like characteristics of these compounds is essential for their potential clinical use. Objective: The present study tests the hypothesis that the rate of delta-opioid agonist administration greatly contributes to the convulsive properties, but not the antidepressant-like effects, of delta-opioid agonists. Materials and methods: The delta-opioid agonist SNC80 (1, 3.2, and 10 mg kg-1 or vehicle) was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats by intravenous infusion over different durations of time (20 s, 20, or 60 min). Convulsions were measured by observation prior to determining antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. Results: Slowing the rate of SNC80 administration minimized delta agonist-induced convulsions without altering the effects of SNC80 in the forced swim test. Conclusions: These data suggest that delta agonist-induced antidepressant properties are independent of convulsive effects, and that it may be possible to eliminate the convulsions produced by delta agonists, further promoting their potential clinical utility.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 588-596 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 182 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antidepressants
- Convulsions
- Delta-opioid receptor
- Forced swim test
- Infusion rate
- Rats
- SNC80
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology