Effects of milnacipran in animal models of anxiety and memory

• Published in: Neurochemical research 2006-04, Vol.31 (4), p.571-577
• Main Authors: Moojen, Vânia K M, Martins, Márcio Rodrigo, Reinke, Adalisa, Feier, Gustavo, Agostinho, Fabiano R, Cechin, Edson M, Quevedo, João
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Anxiety; Anxiety - drug therapy; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Cyclopropanes - pharmacology; Cyclopropanes - therapeutic use; Learning - drug effects; Male; Memory - drug effects; Motor Activity - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1007/s11064-006-9050-x

Serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) are involved in both pathogenesis and recovery from depression and anxiety. We examined the effects of acute and chronic treatment with milnacipran, a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) antidepressant, on anxiety and memory retention in rats. Male Wistar rats received acute or chronic administration of milnacipran (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg) or saline (control group). The animals were separately submitted to elevated plus-maze, inhibitory avoidance and open-field tasks 1 h after injection, in the acute group, or 23 h after last injection, in the chronic group. Our results showed an anxiolytic-like effect after chronic administration of milnacipran at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. The treatment does not interfere in memory retention and habituation to a novel environment at any doses studied. These findings support that milnacipran, an established SNRIs antidepressant, can also be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders.