title: Infrared radiation has potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in animal model of depression and anxiety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bright light therapy has been shown to have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of infrared radiation were evaluated using an experimental animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly assigned to either an acutely or chronically exposed infrared radiation group or to a nonexposed control group. Acutely exposed rats were treated with an infrared radiation machine for one session, whereas chronically exposed animals were treated with an infrared radiation for 10 sessions. Control group rats were exposed to the sound of the infrared radiation machine as a sham treatment. After infrared radiation or control exposure, rats underwent behavioral evaluation, including elevated plus maze test, light/dark box, and forced swim test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic infrared radiation exposure decreased indicators of depression- and anxiety-like behavior. No significant effect on general locomotor activity was observed. The number of BrdU-positive cells in CA1 of the hippocampus was significantly increased in both acutely and chronically exposed infrared radiation groups compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that chronic infrared radiation might produce antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Hasama-Machi, Yufu-Shi, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Jotaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishitobi
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoaki
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Shinjiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Jusen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isogawa
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujikura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000528:radiation effects; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar