Nitric oxide involvement in additive antidepressant-like effect of agmatine and lithium in mice forced swim test

Abstract

Lithium is still the main agent in the management of mood disorders such as depression. Likewise, agmatine protects the central nervous system (CNS) against depression. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible additive antidepressant-like effect of agmatine and lithium in mice forced swim test (FST) as well as exploration of the probable involvement of nitric oxide (NO) pathway in this response. Results showed that pretreatment with a subeffective dose of agmatine (0.01 mg/kg) augmented the antidepressant-like effect of lithium subeffective dose (3 mg/kg) (P 0.05). Moreover, pretreatment with subeffective doses of L-arginine (substrate for NOS, 300 and 750 mg/kg) reversed the augmenting antidepressant-like effect of agmatine (0.01 mg/kg) on lithium (3 mg/kg) (P < 0.001). Our results revealed that agmatine enhances the antidepressant-like effects of lithium and the NO pathway might mediate this phenomenon. In addition, constitutive NOS plays a dramatic role in this response. © 201