Behavioral function improvement of prefrontal cortex in treated depressed rats by ECT and ketamine

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is one of the effective methods for treatment of depression. Regarding the stimulatory effect of glutaminergic system on the progression of depression, the effect of ketamine as one of the most important inhibitors of this system has been investigated on the effectiveness of ECT. Given the fundamental role of pre-frontal cortex on changing the mood of depression-related behaviors in depressed patients, the effects of ketamine with ECT on this cortex were taken into account in this study. For this purpose, 50 male rats were used. Animals were randomly divided into five equal groups, and except the control group, the other ones were depressed by CUMS method. Then, three groups of depressed rats were treated in different ways (ECT, ketamine, and combined ECT and ketamine). Finally, behavioral parameters were measured. The combination of ketamine and ECT could reduce prefrontal depression like behaviors by testing of: sucrose intake increased, the total immobility rate also decreased and open field behaviors increased. According to this study, the modification of behavioral parameters in rats treated with ECT and ketamine indicates the specific effect of electroconvulsive and ketamine therapy in modifying the mood and depression behaviors and behavioral test are showing the alleviation of depression signs. Electroconvulsive therapy in depressed rats with ketamine injection is recommended.