SERTRALINE INFLUENCE ON MORPHINE-INDUCED CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE IN RATS

Serotonine reuptake inhibitors are an important pharmacological arsenal for treating major depression, a severe disease with poorly understood pathogenic mechanisms. Also, little is known about the action of antidepressants on reward system, the function of which is severely affected in this disorder. Aim: To assess the influence of sertraline on brain reward system by conditioned place preference technique in rats. Results: Both 3 and 5 mg/kg doses of sertraline determined a significant rewarding effect, whereas only the 5 mg/kg dose increased the morphine-induced rewarding effect (in the morphine-only group time spent in the conditioning chamber increased by 184.92 +/- 21.43% post-conditioning vs. preconditioning, whereas the increase was 195.56 +/- 18.3% in the group treated with morphine and sertraline 5mg/kg, p<0.05). Conclusions: The stimulant effect of sertraline on brain reward function might be involved in its therapeutic efficacy.