AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF TRANDOLAPRIL AND NIMODIPINE IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND MOTOR COORDINATION USING BEHAVIORAL MODELS IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

The present study aimed to assess the role of  angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (trandolapril)  and calcium channel blocker (nimodipine) in anxiety, depression, and motor coordination using behavioral models in mice. This was an experimental study involving 72 swiss albino mice divided into 12 groups. Groups 1 to 4 were used to evaluate the anxiolytic effect using Y maze after 5 days of treatment. Groups 5 to 8 were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect using forced swim test on days 1, 10, 20, and 30. Groups 9 to 12 were used to evaluate the effect on motor coordination using the Rotarod apparatus at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 min. Statistical evaluation was done by ANOVA. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Fall-off time was significantly earlier in only the standard group at 30 and 60 min. The period of immobility was lower in both the test groups on day 30. The total number of visits significantly decreased in both the test groups and standard groups on day 5. The results showed the presence of antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in both the test groups without muscle relaxant property. Therefore it can be proposed that both trandolapril and nimodipine can be new possible targets for treating anxiety and depression without affecting motor coordination at presently used doses.