The present study was designed to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of
fluvoxamine, as a
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressant, on
carrageenan-induced paw
edema in more details. At first,
fluvoxamine was administered intra-peritoneally (2.5, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg Kg(-1)) 30 min before the subplantar injection of
carrageenan.
Fluvoxamine was also injected intra-peritoneally at a dose of 50 mg Kg(-1) 30 or 90 min after
carrageenan injection. Then,
fluvoxamine was given intra-cerebroventricularly (25, 50 and 100 μg/rat) and intra-thecally (25, 50 and 100 μg/rat) 30 min before the
carrageenan challenge. Finally, the effect of
mifepristone (5 mg Kg(-1)), an antagonist of the
glucocorticoid receptor, on the anti-
edema effect of
fluvoxamine (50 mg Kg(-1)) was investigated. Results showed that intra-peritoneal (IP) administration of
fluvoxamine before or after
carrageenan injection considerably inhibited paw
edema response at 4 h post-
carrageenan (p < 0.001), but intra-cerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intra-thecal (i.t.) injection of
fluvoxamine did not alter the degree of paw swelling. The inhibitory effect of
fluvoxamine was reduced by the pretreatment of
mifepristone (p < 0.01). Our results suggest that IP administration of
fluvoxamine produces a noticeable anti-inflammatory effect in the
carrageenan-induced paw
edema in rats and at least, a part of this effect is mediated through
glucocorticoid receptor. Moreover, it seems unlikely that central sites have an important role in this inhibitory effect of
fluvoxamine.