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Imipramine treatment reverses depressive‐like behavior in alloxan‐diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Ceretta Luciane B.,
Réus Gislaine Z.,
Stringari Roberto B.,
Ribeiro Karine F.,
Zappellini Giovanni,
Aguiar Bianca W.,
Pfaffenseller Bianca,
Lersh Camila,
Kapczinski Flávio,
Quevedo João
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.1285
Subject(s) - imipramine , endocrinology , medicine , hippocampus , saline , prefrontal cortex , diabetes mellitus , alloxan , behavioural despair test , antidepressant , brain derived neurotrophic factor , amygdala , neurotrophic factors , psychology , psychiatry , receptor , cognition , alternative medicine , pathology
Background A growing body of evidence has shown an association between diabetes and depression, as well a role of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in diabetes and depression. The present study was designed to evaluate the behavioural and molecular effects of the anti‐depressant imipramine in diabetic rats. Methods To this aim, after induction of diabetes by alloxan (150 mg/kg), Wistar rats were treated with imipramine (30 mg/kg) once a day for 14 days and then subjected to behavioural tests. BDNF was then assessed in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Results In diabetic rats treated with saline, we observed an increase in the immobility time, compared with control rats treated with saline. Treatment with imipramine decreased the immobility time in nondiabetic and diabetic rats, compared with both nondiabetic and diabetic rats treated with saline. In the open‐field test, it was observed that treatment with imipramine reduced the number of crossings the diabetic rats performed, compared with nondiabetic rats treated with saline. The number of rearings did not alter in any of the groups. Diabetic rats injected with saline did not show altered BDNF levels in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus or amygdala, but interestingly, the treatment with imipramine in diabetic animals increased BDNF levels in the prefrontal cortex. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstartes a link between diabetes and depression in rats and that imipramine exerted antidepressant effects in diabetic animals. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.