Omega-3 fatty acids prevent nicotine withdrawal-induced exacerbation of anxiety and depression by affecting oxidative stress balance, inflammatory response, BDNF and serotonin metabolism in rats

Adolescents are known to be more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of nicotine dependence. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether adolescent nicotine exposure, followed by a period of abstinence, could affect the anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors in rats. For this purpose, behavioral assessments were carried out using open field test, elevated plus maze and forced swimming test in male rats received chronic nicotine intake during adolescence followed by a period of abstinence in adulthood, compared to their control counterparts. In addition, O3 pre-treatment was done at three different doses to reveal whether it could prevent nicotine withdrawal effects. Then, animals were euthanized and the cortical concentrations of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory indices, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, serotonin and the enzymatic activity of monoamine oxidase-A were measured. Results indicated that nicotine withdrawal exacerbates the behavioral signs of anxiety through alteration of the brain oxidative stress balance, inflammatory response and serotonin metabolism. Moreover, we found that omega 3 pre-treatment significantly prevents the nicotine withdrawal-induced complications by restoration of changes in the mentioned biochemical indices. Moreover, the improving effects of O3 fatty acids were found to be dose-dependent in all experiments. Taken together, we would like to suggest the O3 fatty acids supplementation as a safe, inexpensive and effective strategy for pre-vention or amelioration of detrimental effects induced by nicotine withdrawal at cellular and behavioral levels.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the effects of adolescent nicotine exposure and subsequent abstinence on anxiety and depressive behaviors in rats. Nicotine withdrawal exacerbated anxiety behaviors through changes in oxidative stress balance, inflammatory response, and serotonin metabolism. Omega-3 fatty acid pre-treatment significantly prevented nicotine withdrawal-induced complications by restoring the mentioned biochemical changes. Overall, we suggest omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a safe, inexpensive, and effective strategy for preventing or ameliorating detrimental effects caused by nicotine withdrawal at the cellular and behavioral levels.