Majallah-i dānishgāh-i ̒ulūm-i pizishkī-i Arāk (Feb 2018)
The Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Anxiety and Depression Behaviors in Adult Male Mice
Abstract
Abstract Background: Anxiety and depression are psychological and physiological states that are identified by physical, emotional and behavioral changes. According to studies conducted, there is evidence concerning the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the emotional, motor, and cognitive functions of humans and animals. In this study, the effect of DHA (2.5 mg/kg) on anxiety and depression behaviors in adult male mice was examined. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 42 adult male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 7 mice. The studied animals were divided into control, vehicle (intraperitoneal injection of sesame oil for 14 days) and treated groups (intraperitoneal injection of DHA with 2.5 mg/kg for 1, 3, 5, and 14 days) and then were studied for anxiety and depression behaviors with elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests. Results: The results of this study showed that treatment of docosahexaenoic acid did not have a significant effect on anxiety behaviors on days 1, 3, 5 (p >0.05), but 14-days treatment significantly reduced the duration of immobility time in the forced swimming test (p˂ 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that docosahexaenoic acid in the dose of 2.5 mg/kg does not affect the anxiety behaviors of rodents but it leads to a decrease in depression behaviors.