Moderate treadmill exercise rescues anxiety and depression-like behavior as well as memory impairment in a rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition which can develop from exposure to a severe traumatic event such as those occurring during wars or natural disasters. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered the gold standard for PTSD treatment, but their side effects pose a serious problem. While regular physical exercise is regarded as a mood elevator and known to enhance cognitive function, its direct role in rescuing core symptoms of PTSD including anxiety and depression-like behaviors and cognitive impairment is unclear. In the present study using the single-prolonged stress (SPS) rat model of PTSD (2h restrain, 20 min forced swimming, 15 min rest, and 1–2 min diethyl ether exposure), we examined the beneficial effect of moderate treadmill exercise on SPS-induced behavioral deficits including anxiety and depression-like behaviors and memory impairment. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control (sedentary), exercised, SPS (no exercise), or SPS-exercised. Rats were exercised on a rodent treadmill for 14 consecutive days. Rats in all groups were tested for anxiety-like behaviors using open field (OF), light-dark and elevated-plus maze tests. All rats were tested for short-term and long-term memory in the radial arm water maze test. Rats were then sacrificed, blood was collected (for corticosterone levels), and individual organs (spleen, adrenals, and thymus) harvested. Results suggest that moderate physical exercise ameliorates SPS-induced behavioral deficits in rats.

Activation of Sigma-1 receptor ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and cognitive impairments in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

“…A variety of animal paradigms have been adopted to mimic the behavioral and cognitive impairments in patients with PTSD, including predator-scent stress (PSS), trauma witness model (TWM) and single-prolonged stress (SPS) [27][28][29]. Here, we used a restressed single-prolonged stress model (RSPS), initially proposed by Liberzon et al, as it replicated the specific neuroendocrinological abnormalities observed in PTSD patients, such as enhanced glucocorticoid negative feedback [5,30].…”

Protective effects of forced exercise against nicotine-induced anxiety, depression and cognition impairment in rat

“…Furthermore, physical activity and chronic forced exercise has been seen to induce anxiolytic-like effects in some experiments [15][16][17]. It has also been evident that exercise can reduce depression and increase cognitive functions [18]. Similar to antidepressants, chronic exercise in mice may induce behavioral changes involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathways [19].…”

The polymethoxylated flavone, Tangeretin improves cognitive memory in rats experiencing a single episode of prolonged post-traumatic stress

“…Rat were subjected to SPS for 14 consecutive days as described by Patki's group, with a slight modification (Patki et al 2014). Brief, rats were held for 2 h in Plexiglas cylinders, then promptly entering a forced swimming condition for 20 min.…”

“…The rats were dried and allowed to recuperate for 15 min, and then were exposed to ether vapor until they lost consciousness. Following the SPS stressor, the rats were housed one per cage and left undisturbed for 14 days to allow PTSD-like symptoms to manifest (Patki et al 2014).…”