Alpha-lipoic acid prevents anxiogenic-like behavior in sleep deprived- rats

Evidence report a bidirectional relationship between sleep deprivation (SD) and anxiety. Although many studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on central nervous system diseases, its effect on anxiogenic behaviors in SD condition has not been investigated. This study examines the effect of ALA on anxiety-related behaviors in SD rats.

Male Wistar rats were sleep deprived in the water box for 24 h, and then submitted to the elevated plus maze (EPM) for assessing the anxiety-related behaviors. Blood samples were obtained to assess the serum corticosterone level.

SD rats decreased the percentage time spent in the open arms (%OAT), showing an anxiogenic-like behavior. Pretreatment administration of ALA (35 mg/kg, three times, once in each day) prevented the anxiogenic-like behavior in the SD rats, suggesting the inhibiting effect of ALA on the anxiogenic response induced by SD. Moreover, ALA alone had no effect on the EPM parameters. Meanwhile, in none of the groups the open arm entry and locomotion altered compared to the control group. In addition, ALA prevented the increased corticosterone level in the blood of SD rats.

The results suggest that SD causes an anxiogenic-like behavior and increases corticosterone level. Pretreatment with ALA prevents the anxiogenic-like effects and decreased the corticosterone level in SD rats. Given the beneficial effect of ALA on improving the performance of rats in anxiety-related behavior in SD conditions, this compound might be future chance in order to decrease the disrupting effects of SD.