Study of the Antidepressant Effects of the Combination of Agmatine and Melatonin Following Restraint Stress in Mice: the Role of Oxidative Factors.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether combining agmatine with melatonin could improve stress-induced depression in mice, focusing on oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus.
Results Summary
The combination of agmatine and melatonin significantly reduced immobility time and oxidative stress markers (e.g., increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, reduced malondialdehyde levels) compared to either treatment alone, with effects comparable to fluoxetine. Limitations include the use of an animal model and short-term intervention.
Population
Mice subjected to restraint stress (no further demographic details provided).
Effective Dosage
Agmatine (1 mg/kg/day), melatonin (10 mg/kg/day), and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day).
Duration
One week of daily administration.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
restraint stress | increase | immobility time | mice | - | led to the elevation of | #1 |
combination of melatonin and agmatine | neutral | - | mice | - | showed a significant effect in comparison to | #2 |
combination of melatonin and agmatine | increase | hippocampus catalase activity | mice | - | was successful in the elevation of | #3 |
fluoxetine | neutral | hippocampus catalase activity | mice | - | comparable in | #4 |
treatment groups | increase | superoxide dismutase activity | mice | - | observed enhancement of | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | malondialdehyde levels | mice | - | reduction in | #6 |
agmatine | decrease | malondialdehyde levels | mice | - | reduction in | #7 |
combination of melatonin and agmatine | decrease | malondialdehyde levels | mice | - | reduction in | #8 |
combination of agmatine and melatonin | neutral | stress-induced depression | mice | - | improves | #9 |
combination of agmatine and melatonin | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | may result from suppressing | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric disorder that has a tight connection to stressful experiences, decreased levels of endogenous antioxidants and enhanced levels of oxidative stress. We drafted this research to define the results of combining agmatine and melatonin on stress-induced depression in mice. METHODS: Experimental groups included the non-stressed group treated with vehicle (ethanol at a concentration of 0.0005%), stressed vehicle (ethanol at a concentration of 0.0005%)-treated group, group treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day), group treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg/day), group treated with agmatine (1 mg/kg/day), group receiving a combination of melatonin (10 mg/kg/day) and agmatine (1 mg/kg/day). The animals were subjected to restraint stress for two hours daily for a duration of one week, concurrently with the daily oral administration of agents through drinking water. Open field test and forced swimming test were operated on the 8th day. The oxidative stress markers were measured in the mice hippocampus. RESULTS: Stress led to the elevation of immobility time. The combination group showed a significant effect in comparison to the agmatine and melatonin groups. The combination of melatonin and agmatine was successful in the elevation of hippocampus catalase activity; and this effect was comparable in the fluoxetine group. We observed enhancement of superoxide dismutase activity in treatment groups and reduction in malondialdehyde levels in melatonin, agmatine and combination groups. CONCLUSION: A combination of agmatine and melatonin improves stress-induced depression more effectively than each alone, which may result from suppressing oxidative stress.