Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Ameliorates Olanzapine-Induced Hypolocomotion in a Rat Model

Olanzapine (OLZ) is a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders. However, OLZ use is associated with several adverse effects, including decreased locomotor activity and increased body weight. While the majority of studies have directed their focus towards managing the metabolic side effects of OLZ, there has been limited attention given to the effects on locomotor activity. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in alleviating OLZ-induced locomotor impairment in female Sprague Dawley rats. Subjects were divided into four groups: control rats (CR), HBOT, OLZ, and HBOT + OLZ. In addition to behavioral effects, we also evaluated the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of rats' brain tissue to demonstrate the maintenance of OLZ effectiveness in improving antioxidant status during the intervention using a rotarod device to measure locomotor activity and coordination. Results showed that HBOT effectively counteracted the hypolocomotion produced after OLZ administration. Moreover, HBOT did not result in a decrease in TAC in brain tissue, which is linked to OLZ treatment effectiveness. Therefore, our results suggest that HBOT may represent a promising non-pharmacological approach to improving locomotor and motor coordination impairments associated with OLZ treatment.