Effect of linopirdine on forced swimming test in rats

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Kv7 type voltage-gated potassium channel blocker linopirdin in Forced Swimming Test (FST) in rats.Material and Method: For this purpose, on the second day of the swimming test, rats received %0.9 NaCl (4 mu l) or a Kv7 type voltage-gated potassium channel blocker linopirdine (0.1, 1, 10 mu g/4 mu l) intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), 15 min before the test.Results: Linopirdine at a dose of 0.1 mu g/4 mu l significantly decreased immobilisation (p=0.003) and significantly increased swimming (p<0.01) with respect to the control grup. Linopirdine at the doses of 1 mu g/4 mu l and 10 mu g/4 mu l; i.c.v., significantly decreased immobilisation (p values<0.001) and significantly increased swimming (p=0.003 and p=0.021, respectively), and climbing (p=0.009 and p=0.006, respectively) with respect to the control grup.Conclusion: The results we obtained shows that linopirdine applied through i.c.v way produces similar effects as the anti-depressant drugs in the FST model. Therefore, we believe that drugs that block Kv7 type voltage-gated potassium channels can be considered as antidepressant drug targets.