Effect of a combination of duloxetine with hydroxyzine on experimental models of anxiety in mice

Abstract

Objective:

There is a strong association between depression and anxiety. Duloxetine, an antidepressant agent, is also used in the treatment of anxiety. Hydroxyzine is preferred over benzodiazepines in the treatment of anxiety. Present study was designed to study the impact of a combination of duloxetine with hydroxyzine in treatment of anxiety.

Materials and Methods:

Mice received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline (10 ml/kg), duloxetine alone (10 mg/kg), hydroxyzine alone (10 mg/kg), and hydroxyzine plus duloxetine (5 mg/kg, each).

Results:

The in vivo results (elevated plus maze and light/dark transition tests) showed significant anxiolytic activity with the hydroxyzine treatment than the control group. The brain monoamines were significantly increased in hippocampi, cerebral cortices, and whole brain in drug-treated groups than in the control group. The group receiving the combination showed similar results in the in vivo models and in vitro tests (brain monoamine estimations) than respective monotherapies, with the exception of a greater increase of norepinephrine levels in cerebral cortices in duloxetine-treated group.

Conclusion:

Combination of duloxetine with hydroxyzine is not beneficial in anxiolytic treatment than the respective monotherapies. There is a need to study the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions to understand the present study outcomes.

Introduction

The close association between anxiety and depression is well-established.[1,2] Anxiety disorders are common and have chronic or relapsing course. It has a strong association with personal distress, impaired social and occupational functions, hampered quality-of-life, and overall substantial economic loss.[3] The prevalence of anxiety disorders ranges between 2.4% and 29.8%.[4] Recently, Baldwin et al.[3] reported a substantial unmet public health, clinical, and research needs in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Antidepressants drugs such as duloxetine, a potent reuptake inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE), and a weak reuptake inhibitor of dopamine (DA),[5] is approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders.[6] Hydroxyzine is an antagonist of histamine receptors. Double-blind studies showed its efficacy and safety over placebo in the treatment of anxiety. In addition, it can be an effective alternative benzodiazepines.[7] Martin et al.,[8] reported benefits of combining hydroxyzine and 5-HT reuptake inhibitors in learned helpless paradigm representing depression condition. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the anxiolytic effect of a combination of duloxetine and hydroxyzine.

Materials and Methods

Animals

Male Swiss Albino mice (25-30 g) were procured from Bharat Serum Ltd., Thane and housed in Perspex cage. Three mice per cage were housed in a temperature (22-24°C) and humidity (50-60%) controlled central animal house facility under light and dark (12 h: 12 h) illumination cycle. Animals had free access to standard food and water. Experiments were performed between 11.00 h and 14.00 h. Each experimental model had a separate set of animals, randomly distributed into seven groups (n = 6/group). The arena of elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test, and light/dark transition test was wiped with 70% ethyl alcohol solution before placing the animals. Animals were transferred to laboratory 1 h before testing. The present study was performed according to protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (Approval number: CPCSEA/IAEC/SPTEM-09/2013), Government of India, New Delhi.

Drug Solutions and Treatment

The drugs were administered through intraperitoneal route. Drug solutions were prepared in normal saline (0.9% w/v NaCl). The animals were treated 30 min before each test session. Group I received vehicle treatment (control group) that is, normal saline (10 ml/kg). Group II and III received monotherapies of duloxetine (10 mg/kg; Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.) and hydroxyzine (10 mg/kg; UCB India Pvt. Ltd.), respectively. Groups IV received combination treatment of duloxetine (5 mg/kg) and hydroxyzine (5 mg/kg).

Anxiety Models

Elevated plus maze test

Two closed and two open arms having dimensions of 30 cm × 5 cm were arranged so that the two closed arms were opposite to each other with an open roof. The height of closed arm walls was 12 cm. Mouse was placed in the center of maze while facing one of the closed arms and the total number of entries and the time spent in the open and enclosed arms were observed for 5 min from a recorded video.[9] The criterion of an entry was the presence of all four paws inside an arm. The parameters such as the frequency of entries in closed (CAE), open arm entries (OAE), total time spent in the closed (CAT), and total time spent in open arms (OAT) were recorded. In addition, the percentage of time spent in the open arms (%OAT= [(open time/300) ×100]) and the percentage of OAE (%OAE= [(open entries/open + closed entries) ×100]) were recorded.[10] These parameters were analyzed using recorded video of each animal by a trained single observer.

Open field test

The open field apparatus consisted of a square white color wooden arena (72 cm × 72 cm × 33 cm). Each animal placed in the center and spent 5 min in arena. The frequency of line crossing, the time spent in, and entries into the central zone of the arena (18 cm × 18 cm) were analyzed using recorded video of each animal by a single trained observer.[11]

Light/dark transition test

The apparatus consisted of a cage having dimensions 21 cm × 42 cm × 25 cm. A partition with door was placed to divide it into two sections of equal size. The first section was white and second was black colored. The light illumination in the first section was kept bright and second was dim. Each mouse was placed separately in the center place of white box while facing door present in the partition. The observation period of each animal was 10 min. Parameters like time spent in light and dark area, percent time spent in light and dark area were analyzed from the recorded video by a trained person.[12]

Estimation of Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and Serotonin by High-performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detector Method

Method described by Choudhary et al.[13] and Madepalli et al.[14] was used to estimate NE, DA, and 5-HT levels in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and whole brain (whole brain = cerebral cortex + hippocampus + remaining brain tissue). The instruments used in analysis includes high-performance liquid chromatography (Shimadzu, LC-2010C HT, autosampler) with fluorescence detector (RF-20A-prominence, Shimadzu), and a reversed-phase analytical column (KROMASIL 100, C18, 5 μm, 25 mm × 0.46 mm). Euthanasia was performed 1 h after treatment and brain was isolated in ice cold 0.1 M perchloric acid. After recording weight of the brain, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and remaining brain parts were removed and weighed separately. Samples were homogenized in 2 ml of ice cold 0.1 M perchloric acid and resulting mixture was centrifuged at 20817 ×g (Eppendorf 5810 R, Rotor F-45-30-11) for 30 min (4°C). The supernatant was filtered through 0.45 μm membrane and stored at −80°C until the time of analysis. The chromatographic separation was achieved on reversed-phase analytical column at room temperature, and the acquired data were processed using LC Solution^@ software. The mobile phase consists of sodium acetate (0.02 M), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (0.2 mM), methanol (16%), di-n-butylamine (0.01%), and heptane sulfonic acid (0.055%). Mobile phase pH was adjusted using phosphoric acid (pH-3.92), filtered through a 0.45-mm membrane (PALL^@ Pall corporation, India). Flow rate of mobile phase was kept at 1.3 ml/min. Monoamines were detected at an excitation wavelength of 280 nm and an emission wavelength of 315 nm. Peaks were identified by comparing the retention time of sample and standard. The concentration of each monoamine in the sample was analyzed according their area under curve using their straight line equation. The linearity for NE, DA, and 5-HT was in the range 0.99–0.997 and results were expressed as ng/g of wet weight of tissue.

Statistical Analysis

One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's honest significant difference post-hoc test was used for the calculation of statistical significance. The GraphpadInStat for 32 bit Windows version 3.06 (GraphPad Software, Inc) was used for statistical assessment. The data were represented as mean ± standard error of mean values (per group n = 6).

Results

Elevated Plus Maze

Hydroxyzine treatment showed a significant increase in OAT, %OAT, OAE, %OAE, and decrease in CAE parameters than the control group [Table 1]. Duloxetine and combination treated groups failed to show a significant difference when compared with the control group [Table 1]. Combination treated group showed a significant decrease in OAT, %OAT, %OAE, and increase in CAE parameters when compared with hydroxyzine treated group (P < 0.01) [Table 1].

Table 1.

Effect of duloxetine and hydroxyzine on the elevated plus maze in mice

Light/Dark Transition Test

Only hydroxyzine-treated groups showed significant increase in time spent in lightbox, percentage time spent in light box, and decrease in time spent in dark box and percentage time spent in dark box, as compared to control group [Table 2]. Combination treated group showed significant decrease in time spent in lightbox, percentage time spent in light box, and increase in time spent in dark box and percentage time spent in dark box, as compared to hydroxyzine-treated group [Table 2].

Table 2.

Effect of duloxetine and hydroxyzine in light/dark transition test in mice

Brain Monoamine Estimation

Drug-treated groups showed a significant increase in NE, DA, and 5-HT levels in hippocampi, cerebral cortices, and whole brains, as compared to control group [Table 3]. However, hydroxyzine treatment failed to increase NE levels in hippocampi as compared to control group [Table 3]. With the exception of a significant increase of NE in cerebral cortices, combination treatment failed to produce a significant increase in brain monoamine levels when compared against duloxetine and hydroxyzine treated groups [Table 3].

Table 3.

Effect of duloxetine and hydroxyzine on brain monoamine levels (ng/g) in mice

Discussion

The present study outcomes indicate no benefit of the combination of duloxetine with hydroxyzine over the respective monotherapy. The results of duloxetine monotherapy are inconformity with a previously published report.[13] Unlike the single dose treatment of duloxetine in the present study, Troelsen et al.[13] showed anxiolytic effect of duloxetine with chronic treatment. Results of hydroxyzine monotherapy are also in line with the available reports.[14] Hydroxyzine produces a sedative effect in animals above 15 mg/kg.[15] Therefore, we considered the lower dose of hydroxyzine in the present study. The role of histamine in psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression is well-known.[16] Serafim et al.[17] reported an important role of H₁ and not H₂ receptors in anxiety-like behavior. H₁ receptor blockers showed increase in brain levels of noradrenaline and 5-HT and no effect on DA.[18] The results of hydroxyzine treatment induced brain monoamine changes observed in present study [Table 3] are inline with these findings; however, increase in DA levels observed in present study may be due the drug and methodological difference. Similarly, the duloxetine treatment-induced increase in brain monoamine profile [Table 3] is in agreement with previous reports.[19,20] The 5-HT and NE reuptake action of the duloxetine help in treating anxiety associated neurobiological dysfunctions of the serotonergic and noradrenergic system.[6] The duloxetine-induced reduction in 5-HT -transporter density observed with chronic dosing[13] may help in understanding the associated anxiolytic effects. The effect of chronic dosing on anxiety and brain monoamines was not evaluated in this study, which is its limitation. The unavailability of reports of pharmacokinetic interactions between the hydroxyzine and duloxetine limits the understanding of the failure to produce an enhancement of anxiolytic effect by the combination of drugs under study. The absence of an additive effect of hydroxyzine plus duloxetine combination in anxiety needs to be evaluated further. This may help clinicians use this combination rationally and optimally for treatment of anxiety.