Effect of the coadministration of citalopram with mirtazapine or atipamezole on rat contextual conditioned fear

Figures & data

Figure 1 Effect of acute mirtazapine or atipamezole treatment on conditioned freezing in rats.

Notes: One day after footshock, mirtazapine (1–10 mg/kg) or atipamezole (0.04–0.64 mg/kg) was administrated 60 minutes before testing intraperitoneally or subcutaneously, respectively. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean of freezing scored for a 5-minute observation period. **P<0.01 versus Veh (Steel test). (A) N=8 (rats in each group); (B) N=16 (rats in each group), except for the atipamezole 0.64 mg/kg group (N=8).
Abbreviations: Veh, vehicle; N, number.

Figure 2 Effect of the coadministration of low-dose citalopram with subeffective doses of mirtazapine or atipamezole on conditioned freezing.

Notes: One day after footshock, the low dose of citalopram (3 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered 1 hour before testing. Mirtazapine (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or atipamezole (0.04 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administrated 30 minutes after citalopram treatment (ie, 30 minutes prior to testing). Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean of the freezing behavior scored during a 5-minute observation period. *P<0.05 versus Veh + Veh (Steel–Dwass test). (A) N=7 (rats in each group); (B) N=14 (rats in each group).
Abbreviations: Veh, vehicle; Cit, citalopram; N, number.

Figure 3 Effect of the coadministration of high-dose citalopram with subeffective mirtazapine or atipamezole on conditioned freezing.

Notes: One day after footshock, the high dose of citalopram (30 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered 1 hour before testing. Mirtazapine (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or atipamezole (0.04 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administrated 30 minutes after citalopram treatment (ie, 30 minutes prior to testing). Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean of freezing scored for a 5-minute observation period. *P<0.05; **P<0.01, versus Veh + Veh; ^##P<0.01, versus Mirtazapine + Cit (Steel–Dwass test). (A) N=14 (rats in each group); (B) N=16 (rats in each group).
Abbreviations: Veh, vehicle; Cit, citalopram; N, number; NS, not significant.