Pain-depression dyad induced by reserpine is relieved by p,p'-methoxyl-diphenyl diselenide in rats

Depression and pain comorbidity represent a neuropsychiatric condition with substantial socioeconomic impact to society. The commonly used antidepressants and analgesics to treat this comorbidity have shown restricted clinical efficacy. In this way, the aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical effects of a p,p'-methoxyl-diphenyl diselenide (OMePhSe)₂ supplemented diet on pain-depression dyad induced by reserpine in rats. Adult Wistar rats were fed with 10mg (MeOPhSe)₂ per kg of rat chow supplemented diet for 30 days. Pain-depression dyad was induced by daily subcutaneous reserpine injection (0.5mg/kg for three consecutive days) from 22 to 24 day of (MeOPhSe)₂ supplementation. The results showed that the reserpine injected rats had behavior phenotypes typical of depression-pain dyad and the (MeOPhSe)₂-supplemented diet protected against these modifications. Furthermore, the (MeOPhSe)₂ dietary supplementation was effective against the increase in the prefrontal cortical MDA levels caused by reserpine. (MeOPhSe)₂-supplemented diet triggered a per se augmentation of Nrf-2 levels. The [³H] serotonin uptake, [³H] glutamate uptake and release and MAO activity were not altered in the prefrontal cortices of rats from any experimental group. Therefore, the results indicate that protective effects of a (MeOPhSe)₂-supplemented diet can be mediated, at least in part, by its antioxidant property.