Volume 11, Issue 4 (July & August - Special Issue on Memory, Reward & Stress 2020)                   BCN 2020, 11(4): 413-422 | Back to browse issues page


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1- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
2- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:  
Introduction: Stress predisposes organisms to depression and cognitive impairments, and seems to interact with metabolic homeostasis. The inflammatory response and the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines are some of the consequences related to chronic stress. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of chronic administration of ibuprofen, as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenases, on the cognitive and behavioral alterations and the weight gain reduction induced by simultaneous chronic restraint stress in rats.
Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress and injected daily with the variable doses of ibuprofen or vehicle, for 21 consecutive days. Then, all animals were tested with the forced swim test and passive avoidance conditioning.  Also, the weight of the animals was recorded before and after the interventions. Ultimately, plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured. 
Results: Chronic stress increased depressive-like behaviors, impaired learning, and disrupted the normal weight gain. However, the animals that received the highest dose of ibuprofen showed less depressive-like behaviors, a better avoidance memory, and a higher weight gain. However, the level of plasma IL-6 did not differ significantly between the study groups.
Conclusion: The administration of ibuprofen prevents the cognitive and behavioral consequences of chronic stress. During the recovery, the plasma levels of IL-6 were not elevated by stress, and the IL-6 levels did not predict the behavioral performance of the stressed animals. The exact mechanisms of the protective effects of ibuprofen against chronic stress need to be further investigated.
Type of Study: Original | Subject: Behavioral Neuroscience
Received: 2019/04/8 | Accepted: 2019/10/15 | Published: 2020/07/1

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