Antidepressant Activity of 8-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,4,5-benzopentathiepin- 6-amine hydrochloride (TC-2153): Comparison with Classical Antidepressants

Creation of effective antidepressant drugs is the key problem of the modern neuropharmacology. Here, the effect of acute administration of a new potential psychotropic drug, 8-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,4,5-benzopentathiepin-6- amine hydrochloride (TC-2153) (10 and 20 mg/kg), on depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test (FST), anxietylike behavior and locomotion in the open field (OFT) and in the elevated plus-maze (PMT) tests was compared with those of classic antidepressant drugs, fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) and imipramine (20 mg/kg). Experiments were performed on adult male mice of AKR.CBA-D13Mit76 recombinant strain. TC-2153 at the doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg as well as fluoxetine and imipramine significantly decreased immobility time in the FST. Both doses of TC-2153 did not alter mouse behavior in the OFT. At the same time, imipramine significantly reduced the distance travelled and the number of rearing bouts, while fluoxetine decreased the number of rearing bouts in the OFT. All drugs produced no effect on the time spent in the center of the OFT and in the open arms in the PMT. These results suggest that TC-2153 is a promising psychotropic drug with the antidepressant-like activity similar to imipramine or fluoxetine, but lacking any visible negative side effect (reduction of locomotion or exploratory behavior).