Antidepressant-like and memory-enhancing effects of the N-type calcium channel blocker ziconotide in rats.

The lack of oral or injectable formulations of ziconotide (ω-conotoxin peptide), a novel analgesic agent, limits research on potential neurobehavioral protective properties of this substance, including antidepressant-like effects. Here we expose rats to a stress paradigm that induces depression and memory impairment to assess the effects of ziconotide treatment. Ziconotide was administered intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) to rats undergoing stereotaxic surgery at a single dose (1 μg/rat) or in repeated long-term applications (dosage groups: 0.1, 0.3, and 1 μg/rat). The antidepressant activity and memory-enhancing effects of ziconotide were examined via the forced swimming test, the Morris water maze test, and the passive avoidance learning test. Behavioral results showed that long-term i.c.v. ziconotide administration significantly decreased the immobility time and delayed the latency period to immobility in a dose-dependent manner compared to controls. In the passive avoidance learning test, the latency period increased, and in the Morris water maze test, the platform location latency time decreased. A single dose of ziconotide (1 μg/rat) did not show a significant effect on memory function or depression parameters during the same tests. Animals were sacrificed immediately after behavioral testing, and both hippocampi were removed and prepared for BDNF evaluation. Hippocampal BDNF levels were significantly increased in rats receiving long-term i.c.v. ziconotide compared to controls. Our results suggest that long-term consumption of ziconotide may attenuate the severity of depression-like behavior and could be useful for preventing memory impairments in various learning models by elevating BDNF levels.