Effects of acute and chronic fluoxetine treatment on CRH-induced anxiety

Abstract

The effects of acute and chronic fluoxetine treatment on anxiogenic effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) were studied in the social interaction test in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Injection of CRH (100 ng, i.c.v.), fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or their combination had significant anxiogenic effects (decrease in total interaction time and increase in self-grooming) in the social interaction test. The effects of CRH and fluoxetine in combination were not additive. Fluoxetine, but not CRH significantly inhibited locomotor activity. After chronic fluoxetine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, 21 days) the acute anxiogenic effects of either CRH or fluoxetine were abolished. Our studies provide evidence for a 5-HT/CRH interaction in the regulation of anxiety.