+44 330 818 7254S. E. Oriaifo, E. K. Omogbai.
The objective of the study was to investigate the possible effect of furosemide on the antidepressant effects of imipramine and atropine in the tail suspension test model of depression using mice. Groups of mice (25-40g), after acclimatisation in the animal house, were treated with imipramine (10mg/kg), atropine (2.5mg/kg), and furosemide (10mg/kg) ; and with the drug combinations furosemide (10mg/kg) + imipramine (10mg/kg); atropine (2.5mg/kg) + imipramine (10mg/kg); and furosemide (10mg/kg) + atropine (2.5mg/kg) for 14 days respectively. Experiments were done on Day 1 and Day 15 using the tail suspension test. Results showed that the three agents reduced immobility in the tail suspension test significantly compared to controls (P < 0.05, < 0.01) on acute administration. On chronic administration, atropine did not reduce immobility significantly compared to controls (P > 0.05). The combination of furosemide + imipramine did not reduce immobility significantly on acute administration (P > 0.05); and the effect of the combination furosemide + atropine demonstrated attenuation of the anti-immobility effect of atropine by furosemide. Results further showed that atropine enhanced the antidepressant effect of imipramine in the tail suspension test. In conclusion, furosemide antagonised the antidepressant effects of imipramine and atropine in the tail suspension test in mice but with greater antagonism of the effect of imipramine.
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