Corticosterone and Testosterone Levels after Chronic Stress in an Animal Model of Depression
2003; Karger Publishers; Volume: 48; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1159/000072877
ISSN1423-0224
AutoresHerlinda Bonilla‐Jaime, Socorro Retana‐Márquez, Gonzalo Vázquez-Palacios, Javier Velázquez‐Moctezuma,
Tópico(s)Pharmacological Effects and Assays
ResumoNeonatal administration of clomipramine (CMI) in rats induces behavioral changes during adulthood, such as impairments of pleasure-seeking behaviors. However, the endocrine changes induced by this treatment are controversial. In the present study, we analyzed the levels of corticosterone and testosterone in rats neonatally treated with CMI in response to chronic stress by repeated immersion in cold water. Results obtained in the forced swim test corroborated the effect of neonatal CMI administration, showing a significant increase in immobility time. The testosterone response to stress was similar in both control and CMI-treated rats. Concerning corticosterone, there was a significantly lower response to stress in CMI-treated rats. The data suggest that CMI induces permanent changes in the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, without affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
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