Evaluation of the comparison of anti-depressant effects of oral fluoxetine and riluzole in albino rats by using the forced swimming test model

Background: Depression is a group of disorders results from a combination of multiple etiologic factorsgenetic, biochemical, psychodynamic and socio-environmental. A depression consists of following clinical features as sadness, apathy, changes in sleep pattern, impaired concentration, feeling of shame or guilt and thoughts of dying or death. Fluoxetine and riluzole both are used for the treatment of depression in human being. Fluoxetine is SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and riluzole is anxiolytic and mood stabilizer. Methods: Healthy male albino rats weighing between 150-200 grams were taken for the present study. Study animals were divided into three groups randomly with each group consisting of ten animals. Drugs were powdered with help of mortar and pestle and mixed in gum acacia solution. Appropriate volume of the freshly prepared solution was administered orally daily between 9 am to 10 am to all animal as per their individual body weight. Group A administered 1ml of 0.9% normal saline orally and serves as control group. Group B administered 0.4 mg of fluoxetine orally. Group C administered 2 mg of riluzole orally. Animals were evaluated for antidepressant activity using modelforced swimming test. Results: The results in the forced swimming test were assessed by duration of immobility in last 4 minutes of total 6 minute test duration. Antidepressant activity is indicated by the reduction in the duration of immobility i.e. lesser the duration more the efficacy. The results have been expressed as mean±standard deviation of duration of immobility in seconds during 6 minute period. Conclusions: There was significant difference in antidepressant activity of fluoxetine with antidepressant activity of riluzole. Riluzole showed antidepressant activity after two weeks of starting the drugs.