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Exercise Ameliorates Fluoride-induced Anxiety- and Depression-like Behavior in Mice: Role of GABA

Biological Trace Element Research volume 200, pages 678–688 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Fluoride exposure caused anxiety- and depression-like behavior in mice. Meanwhile, exercise contributes to relieve anxiety and depression. However, the effects of exercise on anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice remain unclear. In the current study, thirty-six Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) female mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (C, gavage with distilled water); exercise group (E, gavage with distilled water and treadmill exercise (speed, 10 m/min; time, 30 min/day)); fluoride group (F, gavage with 24 mg/kg sodium fluoride (NaF)); and exercise plus fluoride group (EF, gavage with 24 mg/kg NaF and treadmill exercise). All treatments lasted for 8 weeks. A number of entries into and time spent in the open zone in the elevated zero maze (EZM), resting time in the tail suspension test (TST) and levels of serotonin (5-HT) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), were significantly altered in F when compared to C. Meanwhile, the anxiety-like behavior in the EZM and the depression-like behavior in the TST were significantly improved in EF when compared to group F. Exercise significantly enhanced fluoride-induced low GABA level, with less effect on the concentration of 5-HT. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 and GAD67 and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were all strikingly decreased in F, while those in EF were increased. In conclusion, exercise ameliorates anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice through increasing the expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins, rather than 5-HT system.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in the published article and its supplementary information files. The raw data of the paper are available upon request from the corresponding author.

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Funding

This work was supported by Shanxi Province Innovation Project for Graduates Students (Grant 2020SY201), Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (HGKY2019042), and the Program for the Top Young Innovative Talents of Shanxi Agricultural University (TYIT201408).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China

    Qiqi Cao, Jixiang Wang, Yanru Hao, Rong Fu, Yanghuan Yu, Jundong Wang, Ruiyan Niu & Zilong Sun

  2. Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China

    Fangye Zhao

  3. Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China

    Jundong Wang, Ruiyan Niu & Zilong Sun

  4. School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Shengtai Bian

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  1. Qiqi Cao
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Cao, Q., Wang, J., Hao, Y. et al. Exercise Ameliorates Fluoride-induced Anxiety- and Depression-like Behavior in Mice: Role of GABA. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 678–688 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02678-2

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