Exercise combined with fluoxetine medication can relieve post-stroke depression

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of exercise combined with fluoxetine medication on depression and the expression of BDNF and TrkB protein in the hippocampus and to explore possible mechanisms. Methods Forty-eight male Wister rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a fluoxetine group and a combined treatment group, each of 10. A model of post-stroke depression was induced in all except the rats in the sham operation group through occlusion of the middle cerebral artery using the intraluminal tread method followed by imposing chronic but unpredictable stress. The model and sham operation groups were not given any training or medication. The fluoxetine group was treated with fluoxetine, while the combined treatment group received exercise training and the fluoxetine treatment at the same time for 28 days. After one, 14 and 28 days the four groups were given the sucrose preference test, a forced swimming test and were weighed. Brain tissue was resected to detect the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the left hippocampus using western blotting. Results There were significant differences between the model group and the sham operation group in all measurements. After both 14 days and 28 days of treatment, the average immobility times in the fluoxetine and combined treatment groups was significantly shorter than that in the model group, while their sucrose preference, average body weight and the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the left hippocampus were all significantly higher. The same differences were observed between the combined group and the fluoxetine group. Conclusion Exercise combined with fluoxetine medication can relieve depression, at least in rats. Key words: Stroke; Depression; Fluoxetine; Exercise