Potentiation of Pindolol on Venlafaxine in Balb/c Mice Exposed to Chronic Mild Stress

In this research, it is aimed to determine the potentiation of pindolol on the antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in psychomotor agitated depressed mice exposed to chronic mild stress by using open field test and measurement of defecation score. Psychomotor agitated depression model was created by a modified chronic mild stress protocol inspired by previous studies where chronic mild stress was used to provide a depression model in mice. Antidepressant effects of the drugs were tested by measurement of transition to the center area, time in the center area and defecation score of mice in open field test. Chronic mild stress caused to increase in the transition frequency to the center area, in the time to be in the center area, and in the defecation score, markers of the psychomotor agitation and depression (p<0.05). Venlafaxine-pindolol combination but not venlafaxine or pindolol only reversed this effect (p<0.05). Pindolol increased the antidepressant effect of venlafaxine and venlafaxine-pindolol combination had been enough to reverse psychomotor agitation triggered by chronic mild stress, while venlafaxine alone was not enough in the same dose. Chronic mild stress administration resulted in a significant increase in the defecation score of animals (p<0.05). Venlafaxine-pindolol combination reversed the defecation score to control levels but not venlafaxine or pindolol alone. In this study, psychomotor agitation symptom of depression was created with a modified chronic mild stress model applied for the first time in Balb/c mice. Pindolol has the potential to potentiate the venlafaxine in psychomotor agitated mice exposed to chronic mild stress.