Influence of ACTH on the effects of imipramine, desipramine and lithium on duration of immobility of rats in the forced swim test

Chronic coadministration of carbamazepine together with imipramine produces antidepressant-like effects in an ACTH-induced animal model of treatment–resistant depression: Involvement of 5-HT2A receptors?

“…We previously reported that chronic treatment with ACTH inhibited the immobility-decreasing effects of imipramine (Kitamura et al, 2002a). The current findings confirmed the results of repeated imipramine administration in ACTH-treated rats.…”

“…Using lithium together with tricyclic antidepressants may be a promising way to improve the efficacy of the treatment of resistant depression. It was reported that the inhibition of the immobility-decreasing effect of imipramine was reversed by coadministration of lithium in ACTH-treated rats in the FST (Kitamura et al, 2002a). Furthermore, we reported that repeated electroconvulsive stimuli decreased the duration of immobility in the FST in chronic ACTH-treated rats (Li et al, 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, chronic coadministration of lithium, an agent which potentiates the actions of antidepressants in patients with depression, including those with treatment-resistant depression (de Montigny et el., 1981), significantly decreased the duration of immobility, even when given concurrently with ACTH (Kitamura et al, 2002a). Namely, we reported that ACTH-treated rats served a valuable animal model of tricyclic antidepressant-resistant depressive conditions.…”

“…We previously reported that the reduction in the duration of immobility in the forced swim test (FST) caused by the chronic administration of imipramine was inhibited by chronic treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (Kitamura et al, 2002a). Furthermore, chronic coadministration of lithium, an agent which potentiates the actions of antidepressants in patients with depression, including those with treatment-resistant depression (de Montigny et el., 1981), significantly decreased the duration of immobility, even when given concurrently with ACTH (Kitamura et al, 2002a).…”

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Haploinsufficiency Mimics the Behavioral and Molecular Effects of Lithium

“…To our knowledge, an effect of chronic lithium in the FST has not been reported. Lithium does not affect time immobile for rats in the FST (Hata et al, 1995;Kitamura et al, 2002;Einat et al, 2003;Wegener et al, 2003). Acute lithium injection has been reported to reduce time immobile in mice if animals are tested 30 min after injection but not at 45 min (Nixon et al, 1994;Redrobe and Bourin, 1999a).…”