Elsevier

Biological Psychiatry

Volume 25, Issue 6, 15 March 1989, Pages 697-702
Biological Psychiatry

Positive effects of captopril in the behavioral despair swim test

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(89)90240-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Captopril, an angiotensin II converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was evaluated for potential antidepressive activity on the forced swim-induced behavioral despair (immobility) test in mice. Captopril (10.0 and 30.0, mglkg ip) significantly reduced immobility and mimicked the effects of the antidepressants imipramine (30.0 mglkg, ip) and mianserin (3.0, 10.0, and 30.0 mglkg, ip). Captopril increased the motor activity of mice at these same dosages. Naloxone (2.0 mglkg, ip) blocked the effects of captopril (30.0 mglkg, ip) in the swim test. These data suggest that captopril has potential antidepressive activity. However, the conclusion is guarded, as the positive effects may be related to motor stimulation. The blockade of the captopril effects by naloxone suggests that brain opioid peptides play a role in this behavioral effect of captopril.

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    Citation Excerpt :

    As a caveat, we must add that not all studies have shown beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors and ARBs on mood symptoms (Callender et al., 1983; Deary et al., 1991; Omvik et al., 1993). Like in humans, animals studies have shown that administration of ACE inhibitors like captopril and perindopril resulted in antidepressant-like effects (Giardina and Ebert, 1989; Martin et al., 1990)(Table 2). In addition, administration of ARBs losartan, valsartan, candesartan, and irbesartan resulted in antidepressant-like effects (Ayyub et al., 2017; Gard et al., 1999; Gong et al., 2019; Ping et al., 2014; Salmani et al., 2018)(Table 2).

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