title: Folic acid prevents depressive-like behavior induced by chronic corticosterone treatment in mice.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of folic acid on depressive-like behavior induced by chronic administration of corticosterone in mice. Corticosterone (20mg/kg, p.o.) was administered once a day for 21days. Folic acid (30mg/kg, p.o.) or fluoxetine (10mg/kg, positive control, p.o.) was administered immediately after corticosterone injection during the last 7days of corticosterone treatment. On the 22nd day, animals were submitted to tail suspension test, open-field test and splash test. Corticosterone treatment caused a depressive-like behavior, evidenced by increased immobility time in the tail suspension test and decreased time in which mice spent grooming in the splash test. Repeated folic acid or fluoxetine administration significantly abolished corticosterone-induced depressive-like behavior. Chronic administration of corticosterone decreased levels of serum corticosterone in mice. Neither folic acid, nor fluoxetine treatment reversed this impairment. These findings indicate a robust effect of folic acid in reversing behavioral alterations induced by corticosterone model of depression in mice, suggesting that this vitamin may be an alternative approach for the management of depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camille M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis E B
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bettio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colla
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lieberknecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil; Department of Natural Sciences, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Blumenau 89012-900, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: morganamoretti@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Morgana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000523:psychology; D051379:Mice; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005492:Folic Acid; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Antidepressant; Corticosterone; Depression; Folic acid; Stress