Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research

en Impact of Combined Forced Exercise with Escitalopram on Stress-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior in Male Rats Life Science Life Science مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article Background & Objective: The efficacy of escitalopram, a pharmaceutical antidepressant, and exercise, a lifestyle intervention, in mitigating depressive symptoms has been established. This study investigated the impact of varying doses of escitalopram and the combination of forced exercise with escitalopram on stress-induced depressive-like behavior in male rats.   Materials & Methods:  Sixty-four male rats were allocated into eight groups: control (Co), sham (Sh), depression without treatment (Dep-WT), depression with exercise (Dep-Exe), depression with escitalopram at 10 mg/kg (Dep-Esc10), depression with escitalopram at 20 mg/kg (Dep-Esc20), depression with escitalopram at 10 mg/kg combined with exercise (Dep-Esc10-Exe), and depression with escitalopram at 20 mg/kg combined with exercise (Dep-Esc20-Exe). To induce depression, chronic restraint stress was administered for 6 hours per day over a period of 14 days. Following the stress induction period, rats were administered escitalopram (at doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg, i.p), subjected to treadmill running (20-21 m/min for 1 h/day), or subjected to a combination of both interventions. Depressive-like behaviour induced by stress and locomotor activity were assessed using the forced swimming test (FST) and the open field test (OFT), respectively. Results:  In the FST, the immobility time significantly increased in the Dep-WT, Dep-Exe, and Dep-Esc10 groups, while it significantly decreased in the Dep-Esc20, Dep-Esc10-Exe, and Dep-Esc20-Exe groups compared to the Dep-WT group. In the OFT, the central time and total travelled distance significantly decreased in the Dep-WT group. Conversely, central time significantly increased in the Dep-Esc10-Exe and Dep-Esc20-Exe groups, and all treatment groups exhibited a significant increase in central time compared to the Dep-WT group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that combining exercise with escitalopram yields additive effects, representing a promising treatment protocol for anxiety, depression, and locomotor activity.   Restraint stress, Exercise, Escitalopram, Depression, locomotor activity, Rats 144 153 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-6527-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mahshid Zamani mahoorz69@gmail.com 5200319475328460089309 5200319475328460089309 No Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Maryam Radahmadi m_radahmadi@med.mui.ac.ir 5200319475328460089310 5200319475328460089310 Yes Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Parham Reisi p_reisi@med.mui.ac.ir 5200319475328460089311 5200319475328460089311 No Isfahan University of Medical Sciences