The Effect of Atorvastatin on Depression by Forced Swimming Stress model in Gonadectomized Male Mice

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, which its effective treatment maintains an acceptable level of performance in patients. Concerning the different effects of sexual glands on various physiological phenomena such as depression, the purpose of this study was investigation of the effect of Atorvastatin on depression by forced swimming stress model in gonadectomized male mice. Methods: 24 male rats with an average weight of 30-35 g were used in the study. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8). Those groups included a group which was not gonadectomized, the gonadectomized group received DMSO and gonadectomized group received Atorvastatin. At first, mice were gonadectomized. One week after the operation, treatments were administered intraperitoneally half an hour before the test. Depression was assessed by the forced swimming test. In this test, mice were placed into a cylindrical glass (25 cm height, 12 cm in diameter) containing a column of 8 cm of water at 25±1°C. In 10 minutes, the number of immobile, swimming and climbing wall were recorded. The data were analyzed by one way variance analysis and Tukey’s test using SPSS. Results: Intraperitoneal injection of Atorvastatin (40 mg/kg) significantly increased the immobility time in the gonadectomized mice taking the drug or solvent DMSO in forced swimming test. The gonadectomy had an increase in depression compared to healthy mice (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that taking Atorvastatin having a two-folded increase in depression of gonadectomized mice.

Keywords

• Atorvastatin
• Depression
• Forced swim test
• Gonadectomy
• Rat