Chronic agmatine treatment modulates behavioral deficits induced by chronic unpredictable stress in wistar rats

Aim: Stressful life events modifies brain neuronal structure that impairs normal brain functions and leads to behavioral deficiencies. Agmatine is a well-recognized neurotransmitter and has been reported to be released as a response to several stressful stimuli. Chronic mild stress model induces depressive like behaviors in rats which simulates human depression. Material and Method: 36 Albino Wistar rats were equally divided in controls and CMS exposed groups that further divided into three groups (n=6). Agmatine (100 mg/Kg/day) and mirtazapine (30 mg/Kg/day) were administered to respective animals while controls with 0.9% saline orally. Test rats were exposed to CMS after one hour of drugs administration and behaviors were observed in different paradigms post 24 hours of drugs monitoring for 28 days. Results: Agmatine significantly increased the time spent and entries of stressed rats in light/ dark transition box test and elevated plus maze test while struggling and mobility in forced swim test was also improved in rats treated with agmatine. Conclusion: All the data collected and results obtained clearly validated the antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of agmatine in CMS induced depression in rats. Thus, drug development based on brain agmatine levels may leads to novel approach for stress related mood disorders therapeutics. Keywords: Chronic mild stress; Agmatine; Mirtazapine; Antidepressant; Behaviors