Further characterisation of potential antidepressant action of flibanserin.

Rationale: Flibanserin has shown antidepressant-like properties in some animal models. In order to better define the probability that flibanserin may act as an antidepressant, its effects were tested in additional tests.

Objectives: To assess the activity of flibanserin in the forced swimming test in rats, in the distress call frequency in isolated chicks, in the tail suspension test in mice and in muricidal rats.

Mechanism of action of flibanserin in the learned helplessness paradigm in rats.

The mechanism of action of flibanserin, a 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist and a 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist, was investigated in learned helplessness in rats. The effect of flibanserin (32 mg/kg, i.p.

Lack of interaction between flibanserin and antidepressants in inducing serotonergic syndrome in rats.

This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of flibanserin, a 5-HT1A receptor full agonist with antidepressant potential, to induce the 5-HT syndrome (flat body posture, hindlimb abduction and forepaw treading) in rats previously administered with clinically active antidepressants imipramine, fluoxetine or paroxetine. The 5-HT syndrome was observed for 50 min after intraperitoneal administration of flibanserin (0, 8 or 64 mg/kg) given 10 min after antidepressants (0 or 15 mg/kg). Flibanserin induced flat body posture and very slight hindlimb abduction only at 64 mg/kg.

BIMT 17: a putative antidepressant with a fast onset of action?

BIMT 17, the only compound reported to be a full 5-HT1A agonist and a 5-HT2A antagonist at the frontal cortex, was assessed in three animal paradigms sensitive to antidepressants in rats: olfactory bulbectomy (OB), differential-reinforcement-of-low rate 72-s (DRL 72-s) and learned helplessness (LH). In the OB rats, BIMT 17, given once daily for 14 consecutive days at an i.p.

The effect of BIMT 17, a new potential antidepressant, in the forced swimming test in mice.

BIMT 17 inhibits cortical electrical activity through the activation of cortical 5-HT(1A) receptors combined with the antagonism of 5-HT(2) receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antidepressant activity of BIMT 17 and its mechanism of action by using the forced swimming test in mice. BIMT 17, when administered i.