Imipramine reverses the depressive symptoms in sepsis survivor rats

Objective: To evaluate the antidepressant effect of imipramine on depressive symptoms observed in sepsis survivors rats. Design and setting: Prospective, controlled experiment in an animal basic science laboratory. Subjects: Male Wistar rats weighing 300-350 g. Interventions: The rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP; sepsis group) with "basic support" (saline at 50 ml/kg immediately and 12 h after CLP plus ceftriaxone at 30 mg/kg and clindamycin at 25mg/kg 6, 12, and 18 h after CLP) or sham-operated (control group). After 10 days of recovery rats received intraperitoneal injections of imipramine 10 mg/kg or saline and were subjected to the forced swimming test. Measurements and results: The observed increase in the immobility time in the forced swimming test in animals subjected to CLP, as a parameter of depressive behavior, was reversed by imipramine. Conclusions: The depressive symptoms evaluated by forced swimming test had been reversed after imipramine administration. Our data provide evidence that CLP-induced depressive symptoms are sensitive to antidepressants.