Evaluating the Neuropsychopharmacological Profiling of a Calcium Channel Blocker Verapamil on Sleep, Depression, and Locomotion in Mice

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the neuropsychopharmacological effects of Verapamil using three different behavioural tests in mice: Pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, Forced Swim Test (FST), and Spontaneous Locomotor Activity (SMA) using an actophotometer. For Pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, the control group treated with Pentobarbitone alone exhibited an average sleep duration of 84.85 ± 2.17 minutes. Verapamil at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg increased sleep duration to 85.91 ± 2.21, 87.49 ± 2.17, and 92.64 ± 1.93 minutes, respectively, but these changes were not statistically significant. In the FST, Verapamil at 5 mg/kg slightly increased immobility time, while doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg significantly reduced immobility times to 117.20 ± 5.64 and 104.95 ± 5.26 seconds, respectively, indicating potential antidepressant-like effects at higher doses. The SMA test showed that while Verapamil at 5 and 10 mg/kg did not significantly alter locomotor activity, the 20 mg/kg dose significantly reduced photocell counts from 552.82 ± 15.67 to 462.50 ± 16.85, suggesting sedative properties at higher doses. These findings highlight Verapamil’s potential effects on sleep, depression-like behaviour, and locomotor activity, warranting further investigation to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.