Behavioral and Molecular Effects of Magnesium and Vitamin B6 Complex in a Mouse Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15330/jpnubio.12.60-73Keywords:
Post-traumatic stress disorder, electric footshock, magnesium, vitamin B6, oxidative stress, InflammationAbstract
Exposure to severe or uncontrollable traumatic stress factors often results in long-lasting alterations in emotional regulation and memory, leading to development of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study evaluated the behavioral and neurobiochemical effects of a magnesium-vitamin B6 complex in a mouse PTSD model of PTSD induced by inescapable electric foot-shock. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: Control, Stress (exposure to electric foot shock), and Stress+Mg-B6 (electric foot shock with poststress administration of Mg-B6 complex with increasing dose from 100 to 200 mg/kg body mass). To assess the development of PTST-like symptoms, a battery of behavioral tests was used, including the aversive context test, open field test, light-dark box, elevated plus maze, splash test, and tail suspension test. Mice exposed to electric shocks demonstrated markedly longer freezing times compared with controls, indicating enhanced fear memory. Treatment with Stress+Mg-B6 resulted in reduced locomotor activity and shorter time spent in open areas in both the open field and elevated plus maze, suggesting transient behavioral inhibition. The Mg-B6 complex also reduced grooming behavior in splash test, which may indicate a lower motivational drive or suppression of stress-induced arousal rather than depressive-like symptoms. Electrical shock caused a decrease in total leukocyte levels but an increase in plasma myeloperoxidase activity. These changes were not modulated by the Mg-B6 complex. No significant changes in paraoxonase activity, IL-1β levels in blood, or cortex lipid peroxide levels were found in any of the experimental groups. Overall, the study suggests that high doses of Mg-B6 can modulate stress-related neurobehavioral responses, which appear to transiently suppress exploratory and motivational behaviors, possibly due to the inhibitory action of magnesium on neuronal excitability.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Olha Strilbytska, Viktoria Hurza, Myroslava Vatashchuk, Vitalii Derkachov, Vladyslav Berezovskyi, Oleh Demianchuk, Oleh Lushchak, Maria Lylyk, Maria Bayliak
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