Effects of citalopram and fluoxetine on the corticocerebral blood flow in conscious rabbits

• Published in: Acta physiologica Hungarica Vol. 94; no. 3; p. 167
• Main Authors: Sas, K, Csete, K, Vezekényi, Z, Sztriha, L, Vécseil, L, Papp, J G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hungary 01-09-2007
• Subjects: Animals; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - pharmacology; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Brain Ischemia - drug therapy; Brain Ischemia - physiopathology; Brain Ischemia - psychology; Carotid Arteries - surgery; Cerebral Cortex - blood supply; Cerebrovascular Circulation - drug effects; Citalopram - pharmacology; Citalopram - therapeutic use; Consciousness; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - etiology; Depression - physiopathology; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electrocardiography; Fluoxetine - pharmacology; Fluoxetine - therapeutic use; Heart Rate - drug effects; Ligation; Rabbits; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0231-424X
• DOI: 10.1556/APhysiol.94.2007.3.1

Depression, which is associated with an increased incidence of vascular events, frequently occurs following stroke. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitory drugs (SSRIs) as antidepressants, are well tolerated, and also seem to be effective in post-stroke depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the SSRIs citalopram and fluoxetine, on the corticocerebral blood flow (cCBF) in rabbits with unilateral carotid occlusion induced cerebral ischemia. The cCBF was measured by the hydrogen clearance technique. After determination of the mean baseline cCBF, the effects of individual doses (0.1, 0.3 and I mg/kg) of citalopram or fluoxetine on the cCBF were investigated. Following the induction of an impaired cCBF, the changes in cCBF after drug treatments in this condition were likewise measured. The mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and the heart rate (HR) from the electrocardiogram (ECG) were also determined. Neither citalopram nor fluoxetine influenced the cCBF in the control group. Fluoxetine improved the cCBF only very slightly in the ischemic animals. In contrast, all the doses of citalopram exerted pronounced and dose-dependent cCBF-increasing effects in the animals with unilateral carotid occlusion (maximal mean ACBF: 10, 16 and 27 ml/min/100 g tissue). The HR was decreased in both groups. Only citalopram treatment led to a slight MABP-decreasing effect. Besides enhancement of the serotonergic transmission in the brain, the cCBF-increasing effect of citalopram under ischemic conditions may be of benefit in post-stroke and vascular depression.