Efeito da administração aguda de agomelatina sobre o comportamento de ratos Wistar machos e fêmeas no labirinto T elevado

Abstract

Agomelatine N- [2- (7-methoxy-1-naphthyl) -ethyl] acetamide (Valdoxan®, Servier), is a clinically used antidepressant that act by routes other than conventional drugs. It acts as an agonist the melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors and antagonist of the 5-HT2C serotonergic receptor. This dual activity promotes a balance in the sleep wake cycle, unbalanced in depressed patients. Recent research suggests the action of agomelatine as an anxiolytic drug in preclinical and clinical models, in patients with both generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of the acute administration of agomelatine in male and female Wistar rats tested in the elevated T maze. Locomotion of the animals was observed in the open field test. Agomelatine was dissolved in saline and administered through gavage at a dose of 75 mg/kg/mL in males and 25, 50, 75 mg/Kg/mL in females at proestrus and estrus stage of the oestrous cycle. The results showed that none of the doses tested in females altered the behavior of animals. In males, however, agomelatine caused a discrete panicogenic-like effect.