Evaluation of the Effect of Vortioxetine on Pain Threshold By Hot-Plate Test in Mice

INTRODUCTION: Vortioxetine is an antidepressant that has a multimadal action mechanism and has recently come into use. The present study was planned to determine whether vortioxetine affects pain threshold in mice. METHOD: The experimental animals were divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group. The distilled water was given to the control group, 5 mg/kg of vortioxetine was intraperitoneally administered to the first group, 10 mg/kg of vortioxetine was intraperitoneally administered to the second group and 20 mg/kg of vortioxetine was intraperitoneally administered to the third group. Mice were placed on a hot-plate at 30 and 90 minutes. Hind paw licking and jumping times of the mice on the hot plate surface (55°C) were recorded.. RESULTS: With increasing dose (0 mg p>0.05, 5 mg p<0.001, 10 mg p<0.001, 20 mg p<0.001) and increasing time (30th minute p<0.01, 90th minute p<0.01), it was observed that the reaction time per minute, which was a reflection of pain treshold was decreased. CONCLUSION: The results of this study shows that vortioxetine may have a decreasing effect on pain threshold in mice. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism by which vortioxetine exerts its hyperalgesic effect.