Comparison of Various Dosages of Escitalopram on Anxiety-like Behavior and Body Weight in Male Rats under Severe Chronic Stress

Abstract

Background:Stress and escitalopram impact mood and various physiological systems. The present study aimed to compare the protective effects of different dosages of escitalopram on anxiety-like behavior and body weight in male rats subjected to severe chronic stress.Materials and Methods:Rats were randomly divided into groups: control, stress, sham, escitalopram (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg), and stress-escitalopram (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). Restraint stress was induced 6h/day/14 days, and escitalopram was administered concurrently. The number of open arm entries (OAE) and the total time spent in the open arms (OAT) were assessed using the elevated plus maze test.Results:There were significant reductions in latency, OAT, and OAE within the stressed group. OAT showed a notable increase in the Stress-Escitalopram10 and Stress-Escitalopram 20 groups when compared to the stressed group. Both OAT and OAE significantly decreased in the Stress-Escitalopram20 compared to the Stress-Escitalopram10. There were significant reductions in body weight differences across all experimental groups. The body weight in the Stress-Escitalopram20 was significantly lower than that of the group receiving only escitalopram at a dosage of 20 mg/kg.Conclusion:Escitalopram did not induce significant changes in anxiety-like behavior under stress-free conditions. The simultaneous administration of escitalopram, particularly at a dosage of 10 mg/kg, exhibited a protective effect in reversing of anxiety-like behavior under stressed conditions. Both doses of escitalopram resulted in a reduction of body weight in both stress and stress-free conditions, highlighting the dual behavioral and physiological effects of escitalopram. These findings offer novel insights into the dose-specific effects and potential side effects of escitalopram, thereby informing its clinical application for stress-related disorders.