Antidepressant-like effects of p-synephrine in mouse models of immobility tests

Neurosci Lett. 1996 Aug 23;214(2-3):107-10. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(96)12895-0.

Abstract

We studied the effects of p-synephrine on the immobility behaviors and on the spontaneous motor activity in mice. p-Synephrine at oral doses from 1 to 10 mg/kg significantly decreased the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test in mice. At 30 mg/kg, the duration of immobility was returned to control values in both tests. Subcutaneous administration of prazosin hydrochloride (62.5 micrograms/kg), an alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist, blocked the p-synephrine (3 mg/kg)-induced decrease in immobility in the tail suspension test. p-Synephrine did not change the spontaneous motor activity at oral doses from 0.3 to 10 mg/kg. These results suggest that p-synephrine elicits an antidepressant-like activity in mouse models of immobility tests, through the stimulation of alpha 1 adrenoceptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Antidepressive Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Prazosin / pharmacology
  • Synephrine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Synephrine / isolation & purification
  • Synephrine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Synephrine
  • Prazosin