Efeitos comportamentais e neuroquímicos do ácido acantoico no modelo de depressão induzido por corticosterona em camundongos

Abstract

Depression is a disorder that affects more than 300 million individuals. Among its causes, it is suggested evaluate the potential antidepressant effect of acanthoic acid (AA) in mice subjected to the depression model induced by repeated administration of corticosterone (CORT) for 21 days and from the 14th day they were treated with acanthoic acid. Female Swiss mice were divided into eight groups: control (SAL), corticosterone that high cortisol concentrations directly contribute to its pathophysiology. Thus, the present study aimed to (CORT 20mg/kg), SAL+AA10 (saline + acanthoic acid 10 mg/kg), SAL+AA20 (saline + acanthoic acid 20 mg/kg), CORT+AA10 (CORT 20mgkg + acanthoic acid 10 mg/kg), CORT+AA20 (corticosterone + acanthoic acid 20mg/kg), SAL+DSV10 (Saline + Desvenlafaxine 10mg/kg), CORT+DSV10 (CORT 20mg/kg + Desvenlafaxine 10mg/kg). After 1 hour of the last treatment, on days 20 and 21 of the protocol, neurobehavioral tests were performed: open field (AC), perforated plate (PP), elevated plus maze (EPM), tail suspension (SC) and forced swimming (FS). Finally, the oxidative stress parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the brain areas: prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC) and striatum (CE). Behavioral tests showed that CORT administration induced a similar depressive like behavioral effect as it increased the immobility time by 229% in SC and 189% in NF when compared to the control group. A decrease in GSH levels of 61% in HC was also observed, as well as an increase in MDA levels in the three areas studied (PFC: 71%, HC: 63% and CE: 43%) and NO in HC (40%) and CE (78%) when compared to the control groups. Treatment with AA showed an antidepressant effect in the SC and NF tests, as well its neuroprotective effect on oxidative stress, by reversing the reduction in GSH levels and reversing the increase in MDA and NO induced by CORT. It is concluded that AA showed an antidepressant effect in the behavioral tests, which seem to be related to its antioxidant effects in the CORT-induced depression model.