id_867. THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF LOW-INTENSITY PULSED ULTRASOUND ON COMORBID ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN PTZ-KINDLED RATS
Mykhailo Pervak1, Olha Yehorenko1, Kseniya Prybolovets2, Natalia Bukreeva3, Olha Kashchenko2, Svitlana Liashenko2
1 Department of Simulation Medical Technologies, Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine
2 Department of Physiology, Pathological Physiology, Medical Physics and Informatics, Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine
3 Molecular and Genetic Laboratory, Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine
INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is frequently accompanied by comorbid anxiety and depression. Transcranial Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulatory technique capable of restoring neuronal activity and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.
AIM(S): To evaluate the efficacy of LIPUS stimulation (1 vs 5 sessions) on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in Wistar rats with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling.
METHOD(S): The study involved 42 sexually mature Wistar rats. Chronic epileptic syndrome was modeled by daily intraperitoneal injections of PTZ (35 mg/kg) for 21 days. LIPUS stimulation (frequency 1.5 MHz, intensity 30 mW/cm2, pulse duration 200 μs) was applied to the parieto-occipital areas (20 min/day). Rats were divided into intact and kindled groups receiving either sham or active LIPUS (1 or 5 sessions). Anxiety levels were assessed using the Open Field (OF) test, and depressive-like behavior was evaluated using the Porsolt Forced Swim Test (FST). Data were analyzed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test.
RESULTS: Kindled rats exhibited significant behavioral deficits compared to controls, characterized by reduced locomotor activity and increased anxiety in the OF test, as well as increased immobility in the FST. A single LIPUS session did not yield significant therapeutic effects. However, a course of five LIPUS sessions significantly restored behavioral parameters. In the OF test, the total number of crossed squares increased by 38.5% (P<0.01) and central square entries increased by 65.3% compared to the sham-treated kindled group. In the FST, the duration of immobility decreased by 23.5% (P<0.01), indicating a reduction in depressive-like behavior.
CONCLUSIONS: A five-session course of transcranial LIPUS effectively mitigates behavioral comorbidities in a rat model of PTZ-induced epilepsy. These findings suggest that LIPUS may serve as a potential non-pharmacological strategy for managing anxiety and depression associated with epilepsy.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: None declared.