Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like activity of sodium selenite after acute treatment in mice

Background selenium (se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals,that is needed for a broad variety of physiological functions including thyroid hormone metabolism,protection against oxidative stress,and immunity associated functions. human nutritional se deficiencies are associated with neuropsychiatric diseases,like alzheimer's disease,parkinson's disease,obsessive – compulsive disorder,stroke,epilepsy as well as depressive behaviours. in this study we examined antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activity of se in the inorganic form of sodium selenite and investigated whether se influence on the locomotor activity in mice. methods the antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like activity of se was assessed using forced swim test (fst) and elevated plus-maze test (epm),respectively. spontaneous locomotor activity was measured using photoresistor actimeters. results sodium selenite administered at the doses of 0.5,1,and 2 mg/kg,ip reduced immobility time in the fst exerting antidepressant-like activity. in the epm test,sodium selenite at the same doses,produced anxiolytic-like effect; the doses active in both tests did not affect locomotor activity,indicating that these effects of se are specific. conclusions these potential antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of se require more detailed experimental study using animal models to approach a clear conclusion regarding the potential mechanism of the observed effect. © 2016