The efficacy of Boswellic acid on behavioral dysfunctions and dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex of both sexes of rats exposed to social isolation

Abstract

Social isolation is an environmental stress model that leads to a wide range of deleterious effects on behavioral functions and cognition. It seems that social isolation can affect the dopaminergic signaling, although evidence is limited. On the other hand, Boswellia, commonly also called frankincense, and boswellic acids (the most important bioactive constituents in Boswellia) can induce antidepressant and pro-cognitive effects. The present study evaluated the efficacy of boswellic acid on behavioral deficits and dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex of both sexes of socially isolated rats. Social isolation was initiated at postnatal day 21 (PND21) and continued for 50 consecutive days (PND21-70). Locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and grooming (in the open field test), marbles buried (OCD-like behavior), depressive-like behavior (sniffing/grooming rate in the sucrose splash test), novel object recognition memory performance, and DAT gene and protein expression levels were evaluated. Boswellic acid was intraperitoneally injected at the dose of 40 mg/kg (dissolved in DMSO) for 5 consecutive days (PND65-69). The results showed social isolation induces significant behavioral and molecular alterations, while these effects were accompanied by clear sex-dependent differences. Social isolation markedly increased locomotor activity, OCD-like behavior (increased marbles buried), and depressive-like behavior, as well as decreased DAT mRNA and protein levels, while it reduced anxiety-like behaviors and impaired novel object recognition memory. Notably, treatment with boswellic acid effectively attenuated and reversed most of the effects induced by social isolation. These findings suggest that boswellic acid may modulate dopaminergic signaling pathways underlying stress-induced neurobehavioral alterations.

Neurotransmitters

• Dopamine

Related

• Memory
• Object Recognition
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)