Fluoxetine, 17-β estradiol or folic acid combined with intra-lateral septal infusions of neuropeptide Y produced antidepressant-like actions in ovariectomized rats forced to swim

Abstract: Folic acid is antidepressant, either alone or combined with several antidepressant drugs. However, the antidepressant-like actions of folic acid combined with intra-lateral septal (LSN) infusions of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the forced swimming test (FST) have not been tested before. Thus, systemic injections of fluoxetine (20.0mg/kg, P <0.05; s.c.) or 17-β estradiol (10.0μg/rat, P <0.05; s.c.) or oral administrations of folic acid (50.0mg/kg, P <0.05; 75.0mg/kg, P <0.05) or NPY intra-LSN (3.0μg, P <0.05; 3.5μg, P <0.05) reduced immobility of ovariectomized Wistar rats. Subthreshold doses of: folic acid (25.0mg/kg) or 17-β estradiol (5.0μg/rat, P <0.05) or fluoxetine (15.0mg/kg, P <0.05; s.c.) combined with subthreshold doses of NPY (2.5μg/rat, P <0.05; intra-LSN) and these combinations produced antidepressant-like actions; which were canceled by BIBP 3226 (a NPY-Y1 receptor antagonist). It is concluded that folic acid produced antidepressant-like effects probably through the participation of the NPY Y1 receptors found in the lateral septal nuclei. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]