Antidepressant Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid in Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress: Putative Role of Neurotransmitters and 5HT3 Receptor

Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by altered emotion and cognition. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) potent natural antioxidant exhibits neuroprotective effects. However, its antidepressant activity mechanism of action in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) need be evaluated. The were divided into six groups. Group, I vehicle control (without stress), II- CUMS, III- fluoxetine (FLX) (50 mg/kg p.o.), IV, V, VI treated with ALA (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, respectively. All the groups, except I, subjected CUMS + treatments from day 1 42. Body weight behavioral parameters like sucrose preference test (SPT), Morris water maze (MWM), resident intruder (RIT), marble-burying (MBT) performed on 0, 21, 42, forced swim (FST) last 42 43 only. further sacrificed for biochemical histopathological evaluation. significantly improved function, increased strength, reduced lipid peroxidation, restored monoamines, protected CA3 neurons. Further, docking studies revealed strong binding 5HT3 receptor. study demonstrates that might exhibiting effects part restoring monoamines modulating