Melatonin prevented depressive-like behavior following cyclosporine A or interferon-α administration in mice

Background: Cyclosporine A (CYA) prevents graft rejection after transplantation, interferon-α (IFN-α ) is a natural cytokine prescribed in some types of malignancies and hepatitis C virus. However neurologic complication such as depression side effect chronic use these drugs. Melatonin apart from its on regulating the circadian rhythm, has potent antioxidant inhibits N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) current. The goal was to evaluate antidepressant melatonin following IFN-α, CYA administration mice. Methods: Male NMRI mice (25-30 g) were used, IFN-α (1600000 IU/kg, sc), (20 mg/kg, ip), (50 fluoxetine ip) administered daily. After evaluating locomotor activity, assessed by splash test, forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test. Results: While there no significant difference activity amongest different anamal groups, pretreatment with immobility time FST significantly reduced (58.50±19.4s, p