Abstract:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health
problem that develops in a proportion of individuals after
experiencing a potential life-threatening traumatic stress
event. Edaravone is a free radical scavenger, with a
neuroprotective effect against cognitive impairment in
several animal models. In the present study, the protective
effect of edaravone on PTSD-induced memory impairment
was investigated. Single prolonged stress was used as an
animal model of PTSD, comprising 2 h of restrain, 20-min
forced swimming, 15-min rest, and 1?2-min diethyl ether
exposure. Concurrently, edaravone was given at a dose of
6 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally, for 21 days. The radial arm
water maze was used to assess learning and memory.
Antioxidant biomarkers were measured in hippocampus
tissues. Chronic administration of edaravone prevented
impairment of short-term and long-term memory.
Edaravone also prevented the stress-induced decrease in
the ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione and
the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase
enzymes in the hippocampus, as well as increases in the levels
of oxidized glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances. In conclusion, edaravone ameliorated oxidative
stress and cognitive impairment associated with a PTSD model,
probably by supporting antioxidant mechanism in the
hippocampus.