Therapeutic effects of Spirulina platensis against juvenile stress induced oxidative stress, BDNF alterations and morphological remodeling in the amygdala of female rats in adulthood

Background and Aim : The amygdala structural and functional abnormalities has been implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the important role of the amygdala in stress responses and the susceptibility of the females to juvenile stress, the present study investigated the beneficial effects of Spirulina platensis microalgae (SP) as a neuroprotective supplement against juvenile stress induced oxidative stress, BDNF alterations, molecular and morphological remodeling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of female rats during adulthood.Methods : During the juvenile period (PND30-40) rats were subjected to restraint stress (2 h/day for 10 days). Then, the animals were subjected to 15 days treatment (PND41-55) with SP (200 mg/kg/day) followed by biochemical (BDNF and stress oxidative markers), molecular (BDNF and TrkB mRNA expression), and morphological (dendritic remodeling) assessments in the BLA.Results : The study revealed that juvenile stress decreased BDNF levels and reduced apical dendritic length and branch points of pyramidal neurons in the BLA. In addition, chronic stress significantly increased oxidative stress parameters and decreased BDNF and TrkB mRNA expression in the BLA. Treatment with SP alleviated both biochemical, molecular and neuroanatomical deficits that induced by juvenile stress.Conclusion : Our findings provide important evidence that SP as a non-pharmacological intervention during pre-pubertal period can protect neuropsychiatric and stress related disorders in adulthood.

کلیدواژه ها:

Juvenile stress ، Amygdala ، BDNF ، Dendritic remodeling ، Spirulina ، Adulthood