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Effects of (−)-Sesamin on Chronic Stress-Induced Anxiety Disorders in Mice

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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of (−)-sesamin on chronic electric footshock (EF) stress-induced anxiety disorders in mice. Mice were treated with (−)-sesamin (25 and 50 mg/kg) orally once a day for 21 days prior to exposure to EF stress (0.6 mA, 1 s every 5 s, 3 min). Mice treated with (−)-sesamin (25 and 50 mg/kg) exhibited less severe decreases in the number of open arm entries and time spent on open arms in the elevated plus-maze test and the distance traveled in the open field test following exposure to chronic EF stress. Similarly, mice treated with (−)-sesamin exhibited significantly less severe decreases in brain levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin following exposure to chronic EF stress. Increases in serum levels of corticosterone and expression of c-Fos were also less pronounced in mice treated with (−)-sesamin (25 and 50 mg/kg). These results suggest that (−)-sesamin may protect against the effects of chronic EF stress-induced anxiety disorders by modulating dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels, c-Fos expression, and corticosterone levels.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Grant No. 2013R1A1A2058230, 2015–2016), Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea

    Ting Ting Zhao, Keon Sung Shin, Hyun Jin Park, Bo Ram Yi, Kyung Eun Lee & Myung Koo Lee

  2. Research Center for Bioresource and Health, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea

    Ting Ting Zhao, Hyun Jin Park & Myung Koo Lee

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  1. Ting Ting Zhao
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  2. Keon Sung Shin
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Correspondence to Myung Koo Lee.

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Zhao, T.T., Shin, K.S., Park, H.J. et al. Effects of (−)-Sesamin on Chronic Stress-Induced Anxiety Disorders in Mice. Neurochem Res 42, 1123–1129 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-016-2146-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-016-2146-z

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