Effects of omega-3 on behavioral and biochemical parameters in rats submitted to chronic mild stress

Aline H.aas de Mello, Aline Gassenferth, Rosiane de Bona Schraiber, Luana da Rosa Souza, Drielly Florentino, Lucinéia Gainski Danielski, Evandro da Cruz Cittadin-Soares, Jucélia Jeremias Fortunato, Fabricia Petronilho, João Quevedo, Gislaine T.ezza Rezin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Major depression is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder whose pathophysiology is not clearly established yet. Some studies have shown that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in the development of major depression. Since most depressed patients do not achieve complete remission of symptoms, new therapeutic alternatives are needed and omega-3 has been highlighted in this scenario. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of omega-3 on behavioral and biochemical parameters in rats submitted to chronic mild stress (CMS). Male Wistar rats were submitted to CMS for 40 days. After the CMS period, we administered a 500 mg/kg dose of omega-3 orally, once a day, for 7 days. The animals submitted to CMS presented anhedonia, had no significant weight gain, presented increased levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation, and inhibition of complex I and IV activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The treatment with omega-3 did not reverse anhedonia; however, it reversed weight change, increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation levels, and partially reversed the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. The findings support studies that state that major depression is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, and that omega-3 supplementation could reverse some of these changes, probably due to its antioxidant properties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)691-699
Number of pages9
JournalMetabolic brain disease
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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