European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · May 2013
Acute atorvastatin treatment exerts antidepressant-like effect in mice via the L-arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway and increases BDNF levels.
Atorvastatin is a synthetic and lipophilic statin that presents a good effect in decreasing cholesterol levels and is safe and well tolerated. Population-based studies have suggested a positive role of statins in reducing depression risk. This study aimed at investigating the atorvastatin effect in the tail suspension test (TST) and in the forced swimming test (FST). ⋯ The administration of drugs did not produce any significant alteration in locomotor activity in the open-field test. Acute atorvastatin treatment (0.1-10.0 mg/kg, v.o.) increased the hippocampal BDNF levels, which is an effect that has not been observed in imipramine-treated mice. These results demonstrate that atorvastatin exerts an antidepressant-like effect and point to dependence on the inhibition of NMDA receptors and NO-cGMP synthesis, and on the increase of hippocampal BDNF levels.