Anxiolytic-like effect of mirtazapine mediates its effect in the median raphe nucleus

An, Yan; Inoue, Takeshi; Kitaichi, Yuji; Izumi, Tohru; Nakagawa, Shin; Song, Ning; Chen, Chong; Li, Xiao-Bai; Koyama, Tsukasa; Kusumi, Ichiro

doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.09.078

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Several research studies have suggested that mirtazapine decreases anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and depression-like behaviors in the FST in animals treated with saline (An et al, 2013, 2015, 2016a, 2016b; Kaminska and Rogoz, 2016; Rogóż, 2010, 2012; Rogóż et al, 2012). We found similar results: in animals dosed with 30 mg mirtazapine, anxiety-like (as measured in the EPM test, OFT and the LDT) and depression-like behaviors (according to the FST) decreased after 15 days of treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mirtazapine attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats during cocaine withdrawal

Méndez

Salazar-Juárez

2019

J Psychopharmacol

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Background: Anxiety and depression, key symptoms of the cocaine withdrawal syndrome in human addicts, are considered the main factors that precipitate relapse in chronic cocaine addiction. Preclinical studies have found that rodents exposed to different withdrawal periods show an increase in anxiety and depressive-like behavior. Mirtazapine – a tetracyclic medication – is used primarily to treat depression and, sometimes, anxiety. It has also successfully improved withdrawal symptoms in drug-dependent patients. Aim: This study sought to determine whether chronic dosing of mirtazapine during cocaine withdrawal reduced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors that characterize cocaine withdrawal in animals. Methods: Cocaine pre-treated Wistar rats were subjected to a 60-day cocaine withdrawal period during which depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated in open field tests (OFT), the elevated plus-maze (EPM), the light–dark box test (LDT), the forced swimming test (FST) and spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA). Results: We found that chronic dosing with different doses of mirtazapine (30 and 60 mg/kg) decreased depression- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by different doses of cocaine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) during the 60-day cocaine withdrawal. Interpretation: Our results suggest that the pharmacological effect of mirtazapine on its target sites of action (α2-adrenergic and 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors) within the brain may improve depression- and anxiety-like behaviors for long periods. Conclusion: Therefore, the findings support the use of mirtazapine as a potentially effective therapy to reduce anxiety and depressive-like behavior during cocaine withdrawal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mirtazapine attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats during cocaine withdrawal

Méndez

Salazar-Juárez

2019

J Psychopharmacol

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“…10 Its action mainly affects the median raphe nucleus. 11 This nucleus is formed by abundant serotonergic cells that project to the forebrain, mainly to limbic areas of the prosencephalon that control emotional behaviour. It also projects extensively to the hippocampus, regulating memory and regulating dopaminergic activity in the forebrain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mirtazapine has been shown in laboratory rodents to act as an anxiolytic through its effect on 5‐HT1a and α‐1 receptors 10 . Its action mainly affects the median raphe nucleus 11 . This nucleus is formed by abundant serotonergic cells that project to the forebrain, mainly to limbic areas of the prosencephalon that control emotional behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of mirtazapine in the treatment of canine behaviour problems: A review of 32 cases

Argüelles,

Duque,

Miralles

et al. 2023

Veterinary Record

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BackgroundCanine behaviour problems seen by speciality behavioural medicine services often involve chronic anxiety disorders that have resulted in maladaptation of the individual to its environment. Common stressors include the presence of other individuals (other dogs or people), noise and being alone. The treatment of these behavioural problems usually includes a combination of behaviour modification, environmental modification and biological therapies. Within the latter, anxiolytic drugs such as clomipramine or fluoxetine have proven useful.MethodsHere, we present a retrospectively analysed series of 32 cases that were treated with the anxiolytic drug mirtazapine, which is widely used in human medicine but has not previously been reported for the treatment of behavioural problems in dogs (although it is marketed as an appetite stimulant in cats). Cases included dogs with a range of anxiety‐related behavioural problems.ResultsEighty‐one percent of dogs that presented with a behavioural problem showed improvement and suspected adverse effects were mild and tolerable.LimitationsFurther studies are required to isolate this result from the other therapeutic measures and to compare its efficacy with other drugs.ConclusionMirtazapine appears to be a suitable and safe option for the treatment of anxiety‐related behavioural problems in dogs.

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Social Behavior and Aggressiveness in Astyanax

Hinaux¹,

Rétaux²,

Elipot³

2016

Biology and Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish

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Anxiolytic-like effect of mirtazapine mediates its effect in the median raphe nucleus

Cited by 8 publications

References 41 publications

Mirtazapine attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats during cocaine withdrawal

Mirtazapine attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats during cocaine withdrawal

Use of mirtazapine in the treatment of canine behaviour problems: A review of 32 cases

Social Behavior and Aggressiveness in Astyanax

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