Optimization of the sensitivity of the forced swimming technique for evaluating the antidepressant effect of drugs

Biphenyl Dimethyl Dicarboxylate [DDB] is attracting a growing attention for its pharmacotherapeutic properties as a protector against viral and chemical hepatotoxicity, and possibly as an immunomodulator. It has been also shown to possess some neurobehavioral effects on laboratory animals. Thus, the rising wide spread use of DDB, together with the demonstration of its neurobehavioral potential; have stimulated our interest to investigate its effect on the state of depression. The present work was designed to study the effect of combination of tail suspension and forced swimming techniques on the state of depression, and to compare the effect of fluoxetine and DDB on the combined technique. In addition, serotonin [5-HT], dopamine [DA] and norepinephrine [NE] contents were assayed in the whole brain in each case. The study was carried out on adult male mice. Fluoxetine was administered as a single dose [15 mg/kg, i.p.] and DDB was administered daily for 7 consecutive days [100 mg/kg/day, p.o.]. The obtained results showed that DDB exerted similar effect on immobility time as fluoxetine. However, it produced different neurochemical effects

study of the possible influence of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate [DDB] on the social behavior developed by the sensory contact model in mice

The sensory contact model allows forming different psychopathological states produced by repeated agonistic interactions in male mice. It gives the opportunity of using animals with behavioral pathology to investigate the action of novel [along with widely used] psychotropic drugs and to conduct their screening in the simulated clinical conditions. Due to wide use of Biphenyl Dimethyl Dicarboxylate [DDB] together with its neurobehavioral effect, the present work aimed to investigate the possible effects of DDB on social behavior by studying its protective and medicative effects on the process of transformation to aggressive and submissive behaviors using the sensory contact model. Besides, measuring behavioral changes [using the open field test and the elevated plus maze test], neurotransmitters [serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine] and immunological changes [total leucocyte count, differential leucocytic count, and evaluation of bone marrow lymphocytes count and viability assessment] were evaluated. The work was conducted using adult male Swiss mice. DDB was administered orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for two weeks and in two regimens. First as a protective treatment: it was applied for two weeks from the fifth day to the last day of the sensory contact model. Second, as a medicative treatment: DDP was administered after the end of the sensory contact model where the animals were kept in comfortable housing condition without daily interaction and received the treatment for two weeks. The present results concluded that, administration of DDB to the sensory contact model involved animals was showen to be associated with significant impacts on the animals' behavior, brain contents of neurotransmitters as well as the examined immunity related parameters. The produced effects were developed on the frame of DDB administration, whether it is administred as a possible protective agent or as a possible medicative one