Unravelling the role of the 5-HT4 receptors in the manifestation of depression in an animal model

Abstract

In this work we have investigate the involvement of 5-HT4 receptors in the manifestations and treatment of depression/anxiety disorders by using 5-HT4 receptors knock out mice. We have characterized the behavioral phenotype of 5-HT4 receptor knockout mice in test predictive of depression and anxiety. 5-HT4 receptor knock out mice are no more prone to show exrcerbate depression anxiety/behaviors. Behavioral studies in two animal models of depression showed that 5-HT4 receptors contribute to the antidepressant effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, in the olfactory bulbectomy but not in the corticosterone model. Thus, it is unlikely that the activation of 5-HT4 receptors alone are responsible for all the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine.