Low dose X-irradiation mitigates diazepam induced depression in rat brain.
Depression is considered as one of the most prevalent health ailments. Various anti-depressant drugs have been used to provide succour to this ailment, but with little success and rather have resulted in many side effects. On the other hand, low dose of ionizing radiations are reported to exhibit many beneficial effects on human body by stimulating various biological processes. The present study was conducted to investigate the beneficial effects of low doses of X-rays, if any, during diazepam induced depression in rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats were segregated into four different groups viz: Normal control, Diazepam treated, X-irradiated and Diazepam + X-irradiated. Depression model was created in rats by subjecting them to diazepam treatment at a dosage of 2 mg/kg b.wt./day for 3 weeks. The skulls of animals belonging to X-irradiated and Diazepam + X-irradiated rats were X-irradiated with a single fraction of 0.5 Gy, given twice a day for 3 days, thereby delivered dose of 3 Gy. Diazepam treated animals showed significant alterations in the neurobehavior and neuro-histoarchitecture, which were improved after X-irradiation. Further, diazepam exposure significantly decreased the levels of neurotransmitters and acetylcholinesterase activity, but increased the monoamine oxidase activity in brain. Interestingly, X-rays exposure to diazepam treated rats increased the levels of neurotransmitters, acetylcholinesterase activity and decreased the monoamine oxidase activity. Further, depressed rats also showed increased oxidative stress with altered antioxidant parameters, which were normalized on X-rays exposure. The present study, suggests that low dose of ionizing radiations, shall prove to be an effective intervention and a novel therapy in controlling depression and possibly other brain related disorders.
Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
Amandeep
A
Kaur
Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India. Electronic address: nehasbph@gmail.com.
Neha
N
Singla
Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India. Electronic address: dhawan@pu.ac.in.
D K
DK
Dhawan
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003975:Diazepam; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000528:radiation effects; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000528:radiation effects; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000528:radiation effects; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000528:radiation effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D013997:Time Factors; D014964:X-Ray Therapy / Q000379:methods*
D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; C548246:Ache protein, rat; D003975:Diazepam; D004298:Dopamine
Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Behavior; Brain; Depression; Diazepam; Low dose radiation