Depression is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and is effective antidepressant medication. Selenium is essential for good health but required only in small amounts.Aim of the study is to investigate the effects of fluxetine alone and in presence of selenium on anxiety, spontaneous motor activity and antidepressant behavior. Also, the study aims to investigate the effects of selenium on spontaneous motor activity, anxiety measure, and antidepressant behavior, using photoelectric cells, elevated plus maze and forced swimming maze.Mice were divided into 5 group (n=6). Group 1 (control), administered 1% tween 80 (5 ml/kg); group 2 administered selenium (200 µg/kg); group 3 received diazepam as a positive control (1 mg/kg); group 4 received fluoxetine (20 mg/kg); while group 5 received combined treatment of fluoxetine and selenium. All drugs injected sub acutely (three doses), mice were intraperitoneally administered at 24, 5, and 1.0 hrs before scoring. All drugs administered as suspension in 1% Tween 80 (T80). It was injected in volume 5ml/kg. Plus maze, photoelectric cells and forced swimming maze models were used.Fluoxetine has no effect on anxiety or locomotor activity; while selenium produced anxiolytic effect without changes on locomotor activity. Fluoxetine has antidepressant activity without any effect on duration of climbing. Selenium induced antidepressant effect with climbing action. Fluoxetine abolish the anxiolytic effect of selenium when administered together, but the combined treatment decreases the locomotor activity. Fluoxetine administration with selenium counteract the antidepressant effect of each other and climbing effect of selenium. Finally, selenium improves anxiety and depression behavior in albino mice, and might be used as an alternative therapy instead of fluoxetine (which treat antidepression only); but it must not be taken in combination with it.
Behavior Effect of Fluoxetine in Presence of Selenium Using Albino Mice