Gestational iron supplementation reverses depressive-like behavior in post-partum Sprague Dawley rats: Evidence from behavioral and neurohistological studies.

Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that affects about 9-20% of women after child birth. Reports suggest that gestational iron deficiency can cause a deficit in behavioral, cognitive and affective functions and can precipitate depressive symptoms in mothers during the postpartum period. The present study examined the effect of iron supplementation on depressive behavior during postpartum period in a rat model. Method: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were crossed. Pregnant rats received iron, fluoxetine, desferrioxamine or vehicle throughout the period of gestation. During the postpartum period, mothers from all groups were taken through the open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) and sacrificed for histological examination of the brains. Results: Results showed that rats treated with iron-chelating agent, desferrioxamine, and vehicle during gestation exhibited increased immobility scores in the FST, increased latency to feed and reduced feeding in the NIH with corresponding decreased number of neurons and dendritic branches in the cortex of the brain. These depression-related effects were attenuated by perinatal iron supplementation which showed decreased immobility scores in the FST comparable to rats treated with fluoxetine, a clinically effective antidepressant. Iron treatment also decreased latency to feeding while increasing feeding behavior in the NIH. Iron-treated dams had a higher number of neurons with dendritic connections in the frontal cortex compared to vehicle- and desferrioxamine-treated groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that, iron supplementation during gestation exerts an antidepressant-like effect in postpartum Sprague-Dawley rats, attenuates neuronal loss associated with depression and increases dendritic spine density.

Antidepressant Potentials of Components from Trichilia monadelpha (Thonn.) J.J. de Wilde in Murine Models.

Trichilia monadelpha is a common medicinal plant used traditionally in treating central nervous system conditions such as epilepsy, depression, pain, and psychosis. In this study, the antidepressant-like effect of crude extracts of the stem bark of T. monadelpha was investigated using two classical murine models, forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The extracts, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and hydroethanolic extracts (30-300 mg/kg, p.o.), standard drug (imipramine; fluoxetine, 3-30 mg/kg, p.o.), and saline (vehicle) were given to mice one hour prior to the acute study. In a separate experiment the components (flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and terpenoids; 30-300 mg/kg, p.o.) from the most efficacious extract fraction were screened to ascertain which components possessed the antidepressant effect. All the extracts and components significantly induced a decline in immobility in the FST and TST, indicative of an antidepressant-like activity. The extracts and some components showed increase in swimming and climbing in the FST as well as a significant enhancement in swinging and/or curling scores in the TST, suggesting a possible involvement of monoaminergic and/or opioidergic activity. This study reveals the antidepressant-like potential of the stem bark extracts and components of T. monadelpha.

An extract of Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn exhibits antidepressant properties through monoaminergic mechanisms.

Synedrella nodiflora (SNE) has been used traditionally for many neurological conditions and some of these neuroactive effects have been scientifically substantiated. The usefulness of SNE in depression has however not been investigated despite the availability of data in other disease models indicating it may be useful. The present study therefore examined the effect of SNE in acute murine models of depression and the possible mechanisms mediating its activities in these models. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) screening were conducted on SNE. The behavioural effects of SNE (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg) pre-treated mice were examined in the forced swimming (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests. Behavioural events such as mobility (swimming, climbing, curling and climbing), and immobility, were scored. The possible involvement of monoamines in the effects of SNE was assessed in the TST by pre-treating mice with α-methyldopa, reserpine and para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) in separate experiments. Flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, triterpenes, sterols, anthraquinones and phenolic compounds were present in SNE. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of two major constituents observed at retention times 42.56 and 46.51 min, with percentage composition of 45.72% and 36.88% respectively. SNE significantly reduced immobility scores in both FST and TST, suggesting antidepressant effects. The antidepressant properties of SNE were reversed by the pre-treatment of α-methyldopa, reserpine and pCPA, suggesting a possible involvement of monoamines (noradrenaline and serotonin) in its mechanism(s) of actions. SNE exhibits antidepressant effects, possibly mediated through an interplay of enhancement of noradrenergic and serotoninergic mechanisms.