Effect of Amitriptyline on Behavioural and Physical Activity in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Research Aim: This research aims to examine the effects of the tricyclic antidepressant Amitriptyline on the behavioural and physical activities of rats. The study carried out some physical tests and evaluated the results.

Methods: We conducted a comparative studybetween control group and study group (Amitriptyline-injected) rats of age 16 months. The rats' behavior was evaluated using the Elevated Plus-maze, the Morris Water Maze, and the locomotor test.Plasma corticosterone levels were monitored using blood sampling and performed microtiter plate scintillation proximity assay. The changes in the activity among rats were observed.

Results: Rats with a single dose of 10 mg kg-1 of Amitriptyline showed no change in locomotor activity, but repeated doses caused hyperactivity. Imobility was significantly reduced with each dosage of Amitriptyline [F (7, 14) = 10,38, p<0.001. The results were similar across all doses.The total escape delay in the elderly rats was not substantially changed by Amitriptyline when compared to the aged controls “(p=0.2). The two groups of treated elderly rats had similar average swim speeds (19 ± 0.5 cm/sec for controls and 19 ± 0.8 cm/sec for Amitriptyline), while the young control rats swam much faster (24 ± 0.6 cm/sec; p<0.001 compared to aged controls). In comparison to the aged controls, Amitriptyline significantly lowered anxiety-associated behaviours in the old rats (p<0.01), decreased the amount of time spent in the closed arm, and raised the percentage of time spent in the open arms (p<0.05)”. Age and the percentage of time spent in the open arms did not correlate (p=0.13 compared to the younger control group). [8].

Conclusion: Amitriptyline may not be able to induce locomotor activity when administered alone in a single dosage regimen, according to the study's results. Amitriptyline showed overall escape latency and anxiety-associated” behaviors. As a tricyclic antidepressant, Amitriptyline shows decreased ability in both the physical and behavioural parameters in rats.