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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nurul Uyun Abdul Aziz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
Background and aimPostpartum depression (PPD) is a familiar problem which is associated with about 10–20% of women after child delivery. Fish oil (FO) has a therapeutic potentials to many diseases including mood disorders. However, there is paucity of data on the effects of FO supplementation on PPD rat model. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the potentials of FO in ameliorating depressive-like behaviors in PPD rat by evaluating the involvement of NLRP3-inflammasome.Experimental procedureThirty six virgin adult female rats (n = 6) were randomly divided into six groups; Group 1–3 were normal control (NC), Sham (SHAM) and ovariectomized group (OVX) respectively whereas group 4–6 were PPD rats forced-fed once daily with distilled water (PPD), fish oil (PPD + FO; 9 g/kg) and Fluoxetine (PPD + FLX; 15 mg/kg) respectively from postpartum day 1 and continued for 10 consecutive days. Rats behaviors were evaluated on postpartum day 10 through open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST), followed by biochemical analysis of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins pathway in their brain and determination of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR).ResultsPPD-induced rats exhibited high immobility and low swimming time in FST with increased inflammatory status; NLR, IL-1β and NFкB/NLRP3/caspase-1 activity in their hippocampus. However, administration of FO or fluoxetine reversed the aforementioned abnormalities.ConclusionIn conclusion, 10 days supplementation with FO ameliorated the depressive-like behaviors in PPD rats by targeting the NFкB/NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β activity. This has shed light on the potential of NLRP3 as a therapeutic target in treatment of PPD in rats.
Author(s): Aziz NU, Chiroma SM, Moklas MA, Adenan MI, Ismail A, Basir R, Ali RM, Baharuldin MT
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Year: 2021
Volume: 11
Issue: 5
Pages: 419-426
Print publication date: 01/09/2021
Online publication date: 25/02/2021
Acceptance date: 19/02/2021
Date deposited: 09/01/2024
ISSN (electronic): 2225-4110
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.02.007
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.02.007
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