The effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles on cyclophosphamide induced anxiety and involvement of muscarinic receptors in male mice

The anxiolytic effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles has been determined, but its effect on the reduction of anxiety caused by cyclophosphamide is unknown.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles on the anxiety resulted from cyclophosphamide and interaction of cholinergic muscarinic receptor activity with it in the adult male mice.

In this experimental study, 84 adult male NMRI mice (25-35 g) were divided into 12 (n=7) groups including: control (saline, 5 ml/kg), magnesium oxide nanoparticles (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg),  magnesium oxide nanoparticles 2.5 or 5 mg/kg with cyclophosphamide 50,  scopolamine (1mg/kg), scopolamine 1 with magnesium oxide nanoparticles 2.5 or 5 mg/kg, scopolamine 1 with cyclophosphamide 50, scopolamine  1 and magnesium oxide nanoparticles 2.5 or 5 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 50. All drugs were injected intraperitoneally and anxiety and motor activity of animals were evaluated by the elevated plus maze apparatus.

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (2.5 and 5) prevented the anxiety of cyclophosphamide (50), while it has no effect on motor activity. The anxiolytic effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticle was reduced in the presence of scopolamine. The effect of cyclophosphamide induced anxiety was reduced in the presence of scopolamine. The preventive effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticle on the anxiety of cyclophosphamide was reduced in the presence of scopolamine.

It seems that cholinergic muscarinic receptors interfere in the anxiolytic effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticle alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide.