Efficacy of 5HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron antidepressant activity in physical induced albino mice

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy of 5HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron antidepressant activity in physical induced swiss albino mice.Methods: Study was placebo controlled, randomized laboratory based comparative study with prior permission of Institutional animal ethical committee. Experimental animals were divided in to seven groups as control (distilled water 10ml/kg), standard Fluoxetine two doses (10mg/kg and 20mg/kg) , test drug ondansetron three doses (0.5mg/kg, 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg) and combinations of test and standard (0.5mg/kg + 10mg/kg).The drugs were administered intraperitonium and antidepressant activity was recorded using physically induced depression models tail suspension test and despair swim test.Results: Ondansetron treated albino mice groups with dose dependent increase of 0.5mg/kg, 1.0mg/kg and 2.0mg/kg showed significant decrease in antidepressant activity and increase in catalepsy score when compared with fluoxetine 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg. Combination doses showed stastically significant antidepressant activity.Conclusions: The present study indicates ondansetron showed promising antidepressant activity due to its ability to modulate serotonergic system and has proved to be safe in the dose range of 0.5mg/kg, 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg in mice.