Facilitating antidepressant-like actions of estrogens are mediated by 5-HT1A and estrogen receptors in the rat forced swimming test

SummaryPrevious studies have shown that 17β-estradiol (E2) induces antidepressant-like actions per se and potentiates those produced by fluoxetine (FLX) in the forced swimming test (FST). The aim of the present work was to explore the participation of serotonin 1A receptors (5-HT1A) and estrogen receptors (ERs) in the antidepressant-like actions of E2, FLX or their combination in the FST. Although all antidepressants reduce behavioral immobility, antidepressants that modulate serotonergic neurotransmission increase swimming behavior whereas those that modulate the catecholaminergic neurotransmission increase climbing behavior. Thus, using this animal model, it is possible to infer which neurotransmitter system is modulating the action of an antidepressant compound. Ovariectomized female Wistar rats were used in all experiments. In the first experiment, an effective dose of E2 (10 μg/rat, −48 h) was combined with several doses (0.5, 1.0 and 2 mg/kg) of RU 58668 (a pure ER antagonist) 48 h previous to the FST. The second experiment evaluated the action of (1 mg/kg, −48 h or −23, −5 and −1 h) WAY 100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist) on the antidepressant-like action of FLX (10 mg/kg, −23, −5 and −1 h). In the third experiment, the effect of RU 58668 (2 mg/kg, −48) or WAY 100635 (1 mg/kg, −48 h) on the antidepressant-like action of the combination of a sub-optimal dose of E2 (2.5 μg/rat, −48 h) plus a non-effective dose of FLX (2.5 mg/kg, −23,−5 and −1 h) was evaluated. The results showed that RU 58668, the antagonist to the ER, canceled the antidepressant-like action of E2 in a dose-dependent manner. The antagonist to the 5-HT1A receptor blocked the antidepressant action of FLX only when administered simultaneously with FLX, i.e. −23, −5 and −1 h before the FST. Finally, the administration of both RU 58668, and WAY100635 canceled the antidepressant-like action of the combination of E2/FLX. These results imply that both 5-HT1A receptors and ERs participate in the facilitating actions of E2 on the antidepressant-like action of FLX in the FST.