Imipramine reverses the depressive symptoms in sepsis survivor rats.

Abstract

To evaluate the antidepressant effect of imipramine on depressive symptoms observed in sepsis survivors rats. Prospective, controlled experiment in an animal basic science laboratory. Male Wistar rats weighing 300-350 g. The rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP; sepsis group) with "basic support" (saline at 50 ml/kg immediately and 12 h after CLP plus ceftriaxone at 30 mg/kg and clindamycin at 25 mg/kg 6, 12, and 18 h after CLP) or sham-operated (control group). After 10 days of recovery rats received intraperitoneal injections of imipramine 10 mg/kg or saline and were subjected to the forced swimming test. The observed increase in the immobility time in the forced swimming test in animals subjected to CLP, as a parameter of depressive behavior, was reversed by imipramine. The depressive symptoms evaluated by forced swimming test had been reversed after imipramine administration. Our data provide evidence that CLP-induced depressive symptoms are sensitive to antidepressants.