Research ReportThe antidepressant agomelatine inhibits stress-mediated changes in amino acid efflux in the rat hippocampus and amygdala

Agomelatine is a potent melatonergic (MT1 and MT2) receptor agonist and 5HT2C antagonist that is an effective antidepressant in animal models of depression and in patients suffering from depression. Our recent studies revealed that acute restraint stress increases extracellular levels of glutamate and GABA and that these increases in amino acid efflux are inhibited by some but not all antidepressants. In view of the increasing evidence supporting a role of amino acids in the pathology of depression, the current study examined whether acute stress-mediated changes in glutamate and GABA neurotransmission are modulated by agomelatine. In agreement with our previous work, acute stress increases extracellular glutamate levels in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). Similarly, acute stress increases glutamate efflux in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). In the hippocampus, acute stress increases glutamate efflux and elicits an oscillatory pattern of GABA efflux. Agomelatine administration (40 mg/kg ip) prior to acute stress inhibited stress-mediated increases in glutamate efflux in the hippocampus, BLA and CeA. These results demonstrate that acute agomelatine administration effectively inhibits acute stress-mediated changes in extracellular glutamate in the rat hippocampus and amygdala. While acute stress did not modulate GABA efflux in these regions, agomelatine treatment induced an overall reduction of GABA levels in the hippocampus. These data suggest that agomelatine modulates amino acid efflux in limbic structures implicated in major depressive disorder.

► Acute stress increases glutamate efflux in the rat hippocampus. ► Acute stress increases glutamate efflux in amygdalar nuclei. ► Acute stress does not modify GABA efflux in limbic regions. ► Agomelatine inhibits stress-induced increases in glutamate efflux in limbic regions.