THE EFFECT OF OBESTATIN AND KETAMINE IN FORCED SWIMMING TEST
01/30/2020
Júlia Szakács1, Krisztina Csabafi1, Zsolt Bagosi1, Katalin Eszter Ibos1, Éva Dobó1, Dezső Urbán1
1 Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Szeged
Introduction: Obestatin is a multifunctional polypeptide of the brain-gut axis, similarly to ghrelin. We earlier demonstrated, that the acute central administration of obestatin has induced anxiogenic–like effects in computerized open field and elevated plus maze tests. We also observed depressive-like effects of the peptide in the forced swimming test (FST), used to study depression-like behavior and to screen for antidepressants in rodents. Methods: In the present study in male C57BL/6 mice we investigated the effect of peripherally (intraperitoneally-ip) administered obestatin, and ketamine, a potential anti-depressant drug both in experimental and clinical studies. Results: Obestatin administration alone (30 ug/kg ip) increased the immobility time, while ketamine (2.5 mg/kg ip) decreased this parameter. Furthermore, ketamine, when co-administered with obestatin reversed the effect of obestatin, by increasing the immobility time in the FST. Consclusions: Our results indicate, that while obestatin has a depressive-like effect in the FST, ketamine treatment alone or in combination with obestatin can induce anti-depressive like effects. These findings merit further investigations, since the effective treatment of depression, is currently still a worldwide health problem. Grant Support: EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-000006