Effects of Dextromethorphan on Depressive- and Cognitive-Associated Behaviors: A Sexually Dimorphic Study

Introduction: We investigated the sexually dimorphic effects of Dextromethorphan (DM) on cognitive and depression-like behaviors as well as on hippocampal histology in rats following acute administration. Methods: Wistar rats of both sexes were treated with 25 or 50 mg/kg of DM for 7 days via intrap...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Omamuyovwi Meashack Ijomone, Ifechukwude Joachim Biose
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Iran University of Medical Sciences 2019-07-01
Series:Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
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Online Access:http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1226-en.html
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Summary:Introduction: We investigated the sexually dimorphic effects of Dextromethorphan (DM) on cognitive and depression-like behaviors as well as on hippocampal histology in rats following acute administration. Methods: Wistar rats of both sexes were treated with 25 or 50 mg/kg of DM for 7 days via intraperitoneal injection. At the end of the administration, behavioral studies were performed on the Tail Suspension Test (TST) for depressive-like behaviors and the Y-maze for cognitive behaviors. The rats’ brains were excised and processed for routine histological analysis.  Results: Our results showed that DM significantly increased (P<0.05) immobility time in the TST in male rats but not female ones, and decreased percentage alternation (P<0.001) on the Y-maze in both male and female rats. Histological analysis revealed no morphological changes in the hippocampus following DM treatment.  Conclusion: DM impairs cognitive functions in both male and female rats without histologic defects in the hippocampus. However, the induced depressive-like behaviors following DM administration may be sexually dependent.
ISSN:2008-126X
2228-7442