Electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) do not prevent LPS-induced behavioral alterations and microglial activation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Long-term neuroimmune activation is prevalent in major depressive disorder (MDD).
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) shows a dual effect on neuroinflammation, with acute increases followed by long-term downregulation.
• ECT may attenuate microglial activity, a potential mechanism for its therapeutic effects in MDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation.
• To assess ECS's impact on LPS-induced behavioral alterations in a mouse model.
• To explore the potential of ECS in modulating neuroinflammation relevant to MDD.

Main Methods:

• Adult male mice underwent a series of ten ECS or sham treatments.
• Mice received intracerebroventricular injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
• Microglial activity was assessed using immunohistochemistry for Iba1; behavioral tests included sucrose preference and open-field tests.

Main Results:

• LPS induced transient depressive-like behaviors (reduced sucrose preference) and altered locomotion, grooming, and rearing.
• LPS significantly increased microglial activation across multiple hippocampal regions (84–213%).
• ECS did not significantly alter LPS-induced microglial activity or behavioral changes.

Conclusions:

• The study found no significant effect of ECS on LPS-induced microglial activation in the hippocampus.
• ECS did not modulate LPS-induced behavioral alterations in the tested mouse model.
• The hypothesized mechanism of ECS-induced attenuation of microglial activity was not supported by these findings.