Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
2
Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, University de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
3
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4
Department of Psychiatry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Stress may have an important role in the origin and progress of depression and can impair metabolic
homeostasis. The one-carbon cycle (1-CC) metabolism and amino acid (AA) profile are some of the consequences
related to stress. In this study, we investigated the Paroxetine treatment effect on the plasma metabolite alterations
induced by forced swim stress-induced depression in mice.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study that was carried out in 2021, thirty male NMRI mice (6-8 weeks
age, 30 ± 5 g) were divided into five groups: control, sham, paroxetine treatment only (7 mg/kg BW/day), depression
induction, and Paroxetine+depression. Mice were subjected to a forced swim test (FST) to induce depression and then
were treated with Paroxetine, for 35 consecutive days. The swimming and immobility times were recorded during the
interventions. Then, animals were sacrificed, plasma was prepared and the concentration of 1-CC factors and twenty
AAs was measured by spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography system (HPLC) techniques.
Data were analyzed by SPSS, using One-Way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation, and P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, glutamate, aspartate, arginine, ornithine, citrulline, threonine,
histidine, and alanine were significantly reduced in the depression group in comparison with the control group.
The Homocysteine (Hcy) plasma level was increased in the Paroxetine group which can be associated with
hyperhomocysteinemia. Moreover, vitamin B12, phenylalanine, glutamate, ornithine, citrulline, and glycine plasma
levels were significantly reduced in the depression group after Paroxetine treatment.
Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an impairment in the plasma metabolites’ homeostasis in depression and
normal conditions after Paroxetine treatment, although, further studies are required.
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