NICOTINE DISPLAYS ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY DURING THE RAT FORCED SWIMMING TEST.

Nicotine addiction is frequent in people with mood disorders; however the mechanisms involved in nicotine action are not well understood, despite numerous electrophysiological, pharmacological and behavioural studies. The present study investigates the antidepressant effect of nicotine on 30 male Wistar rats divided into three groups: nicotine, nicotine plus mecamylamine and control. The rats were exposed after substance administration to the forced swimming test, the most predictive and widely used animal test for antidepressant action. The results showed a significant increase in swimming activity, a reduction of immobility activity and a delay in immobility latency. The effects of nicotine were blocked by mecamylamine administration. The study demonstrates that acute nicotine administration induces the activation of serotonergic neurons, acting as an antidepressant pharmacological agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]