Therapeutic Effects of Spirulina platensis Against Adolescent Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Alterations and Morphological Remodeling in the Amygdala of Adult Female Rats

Nasroallah Moradi-Kor,1,2 Ali Ghanbari,2 Hadi Rashidipour,3 Ahmad Reza Bandegi,4 Behpour Yousefi,5 Mehdi Barati,6 Parviz Kokhaei,7 Ali Rashidy-Pour2 1Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 2Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 3School of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran; 4Laboratory of Endocrine Research, Research Center of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 5Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 6Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; 7Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, IranCorrespondence: Ali Rashidy-PourResearch Center of Physiology, University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 15131-38111, IranTel +98-9121140221Email Rashidy-Pour@semums.ac.irObjective: The amygdala structural and functional abnormalities have been implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the important role of the amygdala in stress responses and the susceptibility of the females to adolescent stress, the present study investigated the beneficial effects of Spirulina platensis microalgae (SP) as a neuroprotective supplement against adolescent stress-induced oxidative stress, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) alterations, molecular and morphological remodeling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of adult female rats.Methods: During the adolescent period (PNDs 30– 40) rats were subjected to restraint stress (2 h/day for 10 days). Then, the animals were subjected to 15 days treatment (PNDs 41– 55) with SP (200 mg/kg/day) followed by biochemical (BDNF and stress oxidative markers), molecular (BDNF and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B [TrkB] mRNA expression), and morphological (dendritic length and spines) assessments in the BLA.Results: The study revealed that adolescent stress decreased BDNF levels and reduced apical dendritic length and branch points of pyramidal neurons in the BLA. In addition, chronic stress significantly increased oxidative stress parameters and decreased BDNF and TrkB mRNA expression in the BLA. Treatment with SP alleviated both biochemical, molecular, and neuroanatomical deficits that induced by adolescent stress.Conclusion: Our findings provide important evidence that SP as a non-pharmacological intervention during adolescent period can protect against chronic stress-induced neuroanatomical biochemical, and molecular deficits in adulthood, and thus, reduce stress-related disorders.Keywords: adolescent stress, amygdala, BDNF, dendritic remodeling, Spirulina, oxidative markers