Quetiapine effect on depressive-like behaviors, oxidative balance, and inflammation in serum of rats submitted to chronic stress

Major depressive disorder (MDD) etiology is still not completely understood, and many individuals resist the traditional treatments. Chronic exposure to stressful events can contribute to development and progression and be involved in biological changes underlying MDD. Among the biological mechanisms involved, inflammatory changes and oxidative balance are associated with MDD pathophysiology. Quetiapine, a second-generation antipsychotic, induces a better therapeutic response in individuals refractory to traditional treatments. The main objectives of this research were as follows: to evaluate the effect of chronic mild stress (CMS) on depressive-like behaviors, oxidative stress, and inflammation in adult rats; to evaluate the possible antidepressant, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of quetiapine. The animals were submitted to CMS protocols. At the end of the CMS, the animals were submitted to a chronic treatment for 14 days with the following drugs: quetiapine (20 mg/kg), imipramine (30 mg/kg), and escitalopram (10 mg/kg). At the end of the treatments, the animals were evaluated in the open field tests, anhedonia (splash test), and forced swimming. The animals were euthanized after the behavioral tests, and serum samples were collected. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were analyzed. CMS induced an increase in depressive-like behaviors, and quetiapine significantly reduced these behaviors. MPO activity and IL-6 levels increased in the serum of animals submitted to CMS. Quetiapine significantly reduced MPO activity and IL-6 levels. These results corroborate other evidence, indicating that chronic stress is a relevant phenomenon in the etiology of depression and suggesting that quetiapine induces an antidepressant effect because it reduces oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms.