The effect of electroconvulsive therapy on the levels of oxidative stress factors in the prefrontal cortex of depressed rats

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the effective and less complicated methods for treatment of depression in cases of resistance to common treatments. Given the fundamental role of pre-frontal cortex on changing the mood of depression-related behaviors in depressed patients, the effects of electroconvulsive therapy on enzymatic activity of this cortex were taken into account in this study. For this purpose, 42 male Wistar rats were divided into three control, depressed and ECT groups. To create depression, Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) method was used. Finally, NO, MDA, GSH and SOD in prefrontal portion of the brain in three mentioned groups were measured Our findings showed a non-significant increase of MDA (p>0.05) in both groups of depress and ECT in comparison with control. ECT caused a significant increase in contents of GSH and SOD in prefrontal cortex versus the group of control. Also, ECT significantly increased the level of nitrite as compared with control. Treatment of depression by ECT could increase the level of antioxidants in the depressed rats' brain and it may be considered as a treatment for moderate depression disorders.