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Phosphatidylserine: an antidepressive or a cognitive enhancer?
João C Castilho1, Juliana C Perry, Roberto Andreatini
1Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro Politécnico-Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Francisco H. dos Santos s/n, PO Box 19031, 81531-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Summary
Phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) demonstrated antidepressant effects in rat studies, significantly reducing immobility time. However, BC-PS did not show cognitive-enhancing properties in water maze tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) is a phospholipid with potential therapeutic applications.
- Previous research suggests BC-PS may influence neuronal function and mood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antidepressant effects of BC-PS using the forced swimming test in rats.
- To evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of BC-PS in various water maze tasks.
Main Methods:
- Rats were administered BC-PS (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) or imipramine (IMI) at specific time points relative to training and testing.
- Antidepressant effects were assessed by measuring immobility time (IT) in the forced swimming test.
- Cognitive effects were evaluated using spatial working memory, spatial reference memory, and cued versions of the water maze task.
Main Results:
- BC-PS treatment significantly decreased IT in the forced swimming test compared to controls.
- Imipramine also significantly reduced IT, serving as a positive control.
- No significant differences in performance were observed between BC-PS-treated groups and control animals in any of the water maze tasks.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that BC-PS possesses antidepressant-like properties in the forced swimming test model.
- BC-PS did not exhibit cognitive-enhancing effects in the tested water maze paradigms.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed antidepressant effects of BC-PS.