Effects of 8-OH-DPAT and ipsapirone in the tests used for evaluation of the antidepressant action.

8-OH-DPAT and ipsapirone were studied in rats and mice in the tests used for preclinical assessment of antidepressant activity, 8-OH-DPAT shortened the immobility time in the behavioral despair test in rats and mice and counteracted the hypothermia induced by reserpine or apomorphine, whereas ipsapirone revealed only a weak activity in the despair test in rats but not in mice, and was inactive in the hypothermia induced by reserpine or apomorphine. The antireserpine action of 8-OH-DPAT was reduced by haloperidol and also by ipsapirone less potently, though. The obtained results indicate that 8-OH-DPAT acts similarly to typical antidepressants in behavioral tests regarded as specific, whereas ipsapirone is devoid of such an action.