ABSTRACT
ASC/Icg (Antidepressant Sensitive Catalepsy) mouse strain selected for high predisposition to pinch-induced catalepsy is characterized by depressive-like behavior and impaired immune response. Chronic treatment with SSRI fluoxetine attenuated catalepsy manifestation and normalized a decreased number of rosette-forming cells (RFC) in spleen in ASC mice. Chronic fluoxetine administration had no effect on catalepsy and RFC number in mice of parental cataleptic CBA/Lac strain. Fluoxetine failed to alter 5-HT1A receptor functional activity in mice of both strains and diminished 5-HT2A receptor functional activity in CBA but not in ASC mice. No effect on cortical 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor mRNA levels and on 5-HT1A receptor, tph2 (tryptophan hydroxylase-2) and SERT (serotonin transporter) mesencephalic gene expression was observed in ASC mice. Other possible serotonergic mechanisms of fluoxetine effect on catalepsy and immune response in mice with depressive-like state are discussed.
