5-HT3 receptor antagonists reverse helpless behaviour in rats

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Abstract

The effects of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, zacopride, ondansetron and ICS 205-930, were investigated in an animal model of depression, the learned helplessness test. Rats previously subjected to a session of 60 inescapable foot-shocks exhibited a deficit of escape performance in three subsequent shuttle-box sessions. The 5-HT3 receptro antagonists administered i.p. twice daily on a chronic schedule (zacopride 0.03–2 mg/kg per day; ondansetron and ICS 205–930: 0.125–2 mg/kg per day) reduced the number of escape failures at low to moderate daily doses. This effect was not observed with the highest dose(s) of zacopride, ondansetron and ICS 205–930 tested. These results indicate that 5-HT3 antagonists may have effects like those of conventional antidepressants in rats.

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