INVESTIGATIONS OF ACTIVITY OF PHENOBARBITONE IN MICE MODELS OF DEPRESSION
INVESTIGATIONS OF ACTIVITY OF PHENOBARBITONE IN MICE MODELS OF DEPRESSION
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Date
2017-04
Authors
FARUK, Faruk
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Abstract
Depression is a severe neurological condition that interferes with our brain neurochemistry and
synaptic processes, ultimately leading to intense expression of our emotions. Major fallouts
observed from the use of antidepressant including high rates of remission, impotency and
suicidal tendencies led to researches to screen other compounds with antidepressant potentials.
Various studies have highlighted the antidepressant potential of GABA mimetics such as
Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines. This study investigated the antidepressant potential of
Phenobarbitone in mice models of depression. A total of 108 Adult male Swiss Albino mice were
used throughout the study. The study was conducted in two phases: an acute and a chronic phase
respectively. Each mouse received a single intraperitoneal injection of Phenobarbitone 0.5
mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg respectively. Imipramine 20mg/kg served as the
standard drug while distilled water (10 ml/kg) was used as the vehicle. The mice were subjected
to a series of stressors using the Forced swimming test (FST), Tail suspension test (TST) and
Chronic mild stress (CMS) models of depression, and the duration of immobility in the TST and
FST were taken as a sign of behavioral despair, while decrease in sucrose preference was taken
as sign of anhedonia, which are core symptoms of depression. The acute phase of the study
lasted for just a day while the chronic phase lasted for 30 days. A statistical significant decrease
in mean immobility time was observed at the highest dose tested i.e. 10 mg/kg treatment group
(p<0.05) when compared to control in both phases of the study i.e. Acute phase: TST126.1 ±
11.34*, FST54.5 ± 7.34*, Chronic Phase: FST54.5 ± 7.34* and SPT 24.5 ± 1.06*. The mice
were further subjected to the open field (OFT) which showed no significant increase in
locomotory activity (line crossings) in all the treatment groups when compared to control, this
indicates that the results obtained from both phases of the study was due to antidepressant
potential of Phenobarbitone and not due to increase in locomotory or due to the stimulant effect
of the Phenobarbitone. This study shows that phenobarbitone possess significant antidepressant
potential at 10 mg/kg group (p<0.05) when compared to control in both phases of the study.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
INVESTIGATIONS,, ACTIVITY OF PHENOBARBITONE,, MICE MODELS OF DEPRESSION