Funded in part by U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, US Highbush Blueberry Council
The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Blueberries in an Animal Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Ebenezer PJ, Wilson CB, Wilson LD, Nair AR, J F
PloS one · 45 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Animal study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- Animals
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Industry funded
- Government
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Industry group
- U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
- Government
- Department of Defense
- Industry group
- US Highbush Blueberry Council
- Authors
- At least one author declares a financial tie to industry
- Grants
- U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH-15–1-); U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH); U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH1510061)
Based on 4 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2016-09-07 · PLoS One · vol. 11 · issue 9 · p. e0160923
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Cited
- 56 citations · more than 83% of similar papers · 1.9× the field average
- References
- 60 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · PUBLIC-DOMAIN
- Research areas
- Tryptophan and brain disorders · Stress Responses and Cortisol · Biochemical effects in animals
- Keywords
- Tryptophan hydroxylase, Oxidative stress, Internal medicine, Prefrontal cortex, Endocrinology, Serotonin, Monoamine neurotransmitter, Medicine, Tyrosine hydroxylase, Dopamine, Psychiatry, Cognition
- MeSH
- hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, animals, humans, rats, disease models, animal, inflammation, reactive oxygen species, norepinephrine, serotonin, tryptophan hydroxylase, neurotransmitter agents, chromatography, high pressure liquid, stress disorders, post-traumatic, oxidative stress, blueberry plants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
5 authors
From US
- Philip J. EbenezerLouisiana State University
- C. Brad WilsonLouisiana State University
- Leslie Dawn WilsonLouisiana State University
- Anand R. NairLouisiana State University
- Joseph Francis · correspondingLouisiana State University
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma and stressor-related disorder that results in a prolonged stress response. It is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HC). The only approved therapy for PTSD is selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but their efficacy is marginal. Recently, we demonstrated that over-production of norepinephrine (NE) as the possible reason for the lack of efficacy of SSRIs. Hence, there is a need for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of PTSD. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory role of blueberries in modulating inflammatory markers and neurotransmitter levels in PTSD. Rats were fed either a blueberry enriched (2%) or a control diet. Rats were exposed to cats for one hour on days 1 and 11 of a 31-day schedule to simulate traumatic conditions. The rats were also subjected to psychosocial stress via daily cage cohort changes. At the end of the study, the rats were euthanized and the PFC and HC were isolated. Monoamines were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), gene and protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were also measured. In our PTSD model, NE levels were increased and 5-HT levels were decreased when compared to control. In contrast, a blueberry enriched diet increased 5-HT without affecting NE levels. The rate limiting enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase were also studied and they confirmed our findings. The enhanced levels free radicals, gene and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines seen in the PTSD group were normalized with a blueberry enriched diet. Decreased anxiety in this group was shown by improved performance on the elevated plus-maze. These findings indicate blueberries can attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation and restore neurotransmitter imbalances in a rat model of PTSD.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC0).
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