Fluoxetine combined with swimming exercise synergistically reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior by normalizing the HPA axis and brain inflammation in mice

Major depression disorder is a debilitating psychiatric disease affecting millions of people worldwide. This disorder is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in high-income countries. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine are first-line drugs for treating depression-related disorders, but not all patients respond well to these antidepressants. This study aimed to evaluate whether fluoxetine combined with aerobic exercise can affect lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, and brain inflammation in mice. Male mice were exposed to fluoxetine, swimming exercise, or a combination of both and finally treated with LPS. We measured depression-related symptoms such as anhedonia, behavioral despair, weight gain, and food intake. Hormones (corticosterone and testosterone) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10) were also measured in serum and brain (hippocampus and prefrontal cortex), respectively. The findings indicated that LPS induced anhedonia and behavioral despair and increased corticosterone, hippocampal IL-1β, TNF-α, and decreased testosterone and hippocampal IL-10 in mice. Fluoxetine and exercise separately reduced LPS-induced depressive-like behavior, while their combination synergistically reduced these symptoms in LPS-treated mice. We found fluoxetine alone increased food intake and body weight in LPS-treated mice. Fluoxetine and exercise combination reduced corticosterone, hippocampal TNF-α, and prefrontal IL-6 and TNF-α levels and increased testosterone and hippocampal and prefrontal IL-10 levels more effectively than fluoxetine alone in LPS-treated mice. This study suggests that swimming exercise combined with fluoxetine can affect depression-related behavior, HPA axis, and brain inflammation more effectively than when they are used separately.

Adolescent swimming exercise following maternal valproic acid treatment improves cognition and reduces stress-related symptoms in offspring mice: Role of sex and brain cytokines

Valproic acid (VPA) treatment during pregnancy is a risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder, cognitive deficits, and stress-related disorders in children. No effective therapeutic strategies are currently approved to treat or manage core symptoms of autism. Active lifestyles and physical activity are closely associated with health and quality of life during childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate whether swimming exercise during adolescence can prevent the development of cognitive dysfunction and stress-related disorders in prenatally VPA-exposed mice offspring. Pregnant mice received VPA, afterwards, offspring were subjected to swimming exercise. We assessed neurobehavioral performances and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-(IL)6, tumor-necrosis-factor-(TNF)α, interferon-(IFN)γ, and IL-17A) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of offspring. Prenatal VPA treatment increased anxiety-and anhedonia-like behavior and decreased social behavior in male and female offspring. Prenatal VPA exposure also increased behavioral despair and reduced working and recognition memory in male offspring. Although prenatal VPA increased hippocampal IL-6 and IFN-γ, and prefrontal IFN-γ and IL-17 in males, it only increased hippocampal TNF-α and IFN-γ in female offspring. Adolescent exercise made VPA-treated male and female offspring resistant to anxiety-and anhedonia-like behavior in adulthood, whereas it only made VPA-exposed male offspring resistant to behavioral despair, social and cognitive deficits in adulthood. Exercise reduced hippocampal IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17, and prefrontal IFN-γ and IL-17 in VPA-treated male offspring, whereas it reduced hippocampal TNF-α and IFN-γ in VPA-treated female offspring. This study suggests that adolescent exercise may prevents the development of stress-related symptoms, cognitive deficits, and neuroinflammation in prenatally VPA-exposed offspring mice.

Diazepam and exercise training combination synergistically reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex of mice

Anxiety-related disorders are among the most important risks for global health, especially in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Benzodiazepines like diazepam are generally used to treat anxiety disorders, but the overall outcome is not always satisfactory. This is why psychiatrists encourage patients with anxiety to change their lifestyle habits to decrease the risk of anxiety recurrence. However, the effect of diazepam and exercise in combination is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of diazepam alone or in combination with swimming exercise on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of mice. Mice were exposed to diazepam and swimming exercise alone or in combination with each other and then received LPS. We assessed anxiety-like behavior using open field and light-dark box and measured oxidative markers including glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The findings showed that LPS increased anxiety-related symptoms and oxidative stress by decreasing GSH and increasing MDA and GSSG levels in the prefrontal cortex but not in the hippocampus. Although diazepam alone did not reduce anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress, it in combination with exercise significantly decreased anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex of LPS-treated mice. This drug and exercise combination also displayed a more effective effect in comparison with exercise alone. Overall, this study suggests that diazepam in combination with swimming exercise has higher efficacy on anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress than when they are used alone.

Effects of 8 weeks resistance training on plasma vaspin and lipid profile levels in adult men with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Vaspin is associated with decreased blood glucose concentration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of resistance exercise training on plasma vaspin and lipid profile levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Thirty men were divided into 2 groups: control (n=15), and resistance exercise (n=15). The resistance group performed a resistance exercise consisting of 3 circuits of 8-15 repetitions of the 8 exercises. Lipid profiles and vaspin levels were measured at baseline and at the end of study. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (www.irct.ir) with registration number ID: IRCT2013060911772N1.

RESULTS

Intergroup study showed that after an 8-week of resistance training, resistance group had reductions in vaspin (330.50±82.51 ng/ml vs 251.62±107.28 ng/ml, p=0.03), and TC levels (185.21±47.51 mg/dL vs 171.10±37.91 mg/dL p= 0.02); but, had increase in HDL-C levels (38.20±20.65 mg/dL vs 43.80±7.87 mg/dL p=0.01), whereas, vaspin levels significantly increased in control groups (344±78.64 ng/ml vs 436 ± 70.47 ng/ml, p= 0.03). On the other hand, significant difference was seen in plasma vaspin levels between two groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that resistance training significantly decreased the level of vaspin without affecting the lipid profile level.

Effects of an eight-week resistance training on plasma vaspin concentrations, metabolic parameters levels and physical fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes

Vaspin as a novel adipokine has insulin-sensitizing effects, which may be associated with decreased blood glucose concentration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of resistance exercise training on plasma vaspin concentrations and its relation to plasma levels of insulin and glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In a quasi-experimental study, 18 male patients with T2D (mean age, 48.50 ± 7.73 years, mean weight, 79.41 ± 12.60 kg) were divided into 2 groups as follows: control (n=9), and resistance training (RT; n=9) groups. Resistance training was performed 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, metabolic parameters and plasma vaspin levels were measured at baseline and at the end of study. Within-group data were analyzed with the paired t test, and between-group effects were analyzed with the independent t test. Waist-hip ratio (WHR), glucose, insulin of plasma and insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score] were all significantly decreased, whereas levels of vaspin and plasma lipids [cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)] showed no significant changes in RT group as compared with the related values of control groups. Serum vaspin levels did not correlate with anthropometric and metabolic parameters at the assigned times. Our findings suggest that 8-week of resistance training significantly improved insulin resistance index; however, this form of exercise failed to result in significant changes in serum vaspin concentration and lipid profiles. Further research is needed to investigate the role of vaspin in human physiology and to elucidate the effect(s) of exercise intervention on serum vaspin concentrations (Registration Number: IRCT2013060911772N1).