Evaluation of antidepressant effect of palonosetron in Swiss albino mice

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters influencing mental health and a potential target for pharmacological treatments. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT3) receptor antagonists such as ondansetron, mainly used for the management of acute and delayed cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis, have shown antidepressant effects in various studies. Another 5HT3 antagonist, palonosetron approved for delayed cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis, has yet not been studied for antidepressant effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Swim despair test was used for the evaluation of antidepressant effect. Swiss Albino mice were used for the test. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 each to receive following 4 treatments by intraperitoneal (i.p) route: Group 1 Vehicle, i.e., normal saline (0.1 mL/10 g of body weight i.p.), Group 2: fluoxetine (18 mg/kg i.p), Group 3: palonosetron (0.025 mg/kg i.p), and Group 4: palonosetron (0.05 mg/kg i.p). Efficacy was assessed by the recording of the immobility period after 1 h and 24 h of drug administration. RESULTS: Palonosetron in both doses decreased the immobility time and increased the swimming time depicting antidepressant activity as compared to control. Palonosetron in the dose of 0.05 mg/kg (higher dose) showed a statistically significant (P = 0.000) decrease in the period of immobility at 1 h and 24 h, respectively, as compared to control. Palonosetron in low dose, i.e., 0.025 mg/kg showed decrease in the period of immobility at 1 h and 24 h as compared to the control but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Palonosetron, 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, the drug used for amelioration of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, has been found to possess antidepressant activity.