title: Effects of ECS on DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells.
abstract: We conducted a series of experiments to evaluate possible molecular mechanisms by which electroconvulsive therapy, a commonly used treatment for depression, may exert its adverse effects such as amnesia. We assessed the effects of repeated electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) alone and in combination with low-level radiograph irradiation on DNA single-strand breaks in cells in the rat brain, using a sensitive alkaline microgel electrophoresis assay method. Our results show that ECS, when administered alone, had no significant effects on DNA single-strand breaks in cells in either the hippocampus or the rest of the brain. However, repeated ECS when combined with a low-level radiograph irradiation produced a small but significant increase in DNA single-strand breaks in rat brain cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mirolo
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded