Omega-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Induced Memory Impairment.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can happen after exposure to a traumatic event. Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among mental health disorders that include mood and anxiety disorders. Omega-3 fatty acids (OMGs) are essential for the maintenance of brain function and prevention of cognition dysfunctions. However, the possible effect of OMG on memory impairment induced by PTSD has not been studied. In here, such an effect was explored using a rat model of PTSD. The PTSD-like behavior was induced in animals using a single-prolonged stress (SPS) rat model of PTSD (2 h restraint, 20 min forced swimming, 15 min rest, 1⁻2 min diethyl ether exposure). The OMG was administered orally at a dose of 100 mg omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/100 g body weight/day. Spatial learning and memory were assessed using the radial arm water maze (RAWM) method. Changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and brain derived neuroptrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus following treatments were measured. The results revealed that SPS impaired both short- and long-term memory (p < 0.05). Use of OMG prevented memory impairment induced by SPS. Furthermore, OMG normalized SPS induced changes in the hippocampus that reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), GSH/GSSG ratios, the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and TBARSs levels. In conclusion, the SPS model of PTSD-like behavior generated memory impairment, whereas OMG prevented this impairment, possibly through normalizing antioxidant mechanisms in the hippocampus.

1. Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. It involves both mood and anxiety disorders [1,2]. Approximately 20% of individuals exposed to a significant traumatic event will develop PTSD, and children may be at an even higher risk [3]. Post-traumatic stress disorder prevalence rates are largely similar across countries, with the highest rates being found in post-conflict settings [4].

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the response to stress and in the pathogenesis of neurologic and psychiatric diseases [5]. Post-traumatic stress disorder constitutes a form of persistent life stress and is associated with increased oxidative stress and accelerated cellular aging. Clinical and structural neuroimaging studies have repeatedly found associations between PTSD and loss of neural integrity in the hippocampus, amygdala, medial prefrontal, and anterior cingulate cortices [6,7]. While several drugs and psychotherapies are used to treat PTSD, yet there is not enough reliable evidence to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of most treatments [8,9].

The value of nutritional supplements for the treatment of mental disorders stems from studying the association of some food deficiencies with mental disorders. The omega polyunsaturated fatty acids are categorized into n-3 (or omega-3) and n-6 (or omega-6) groups. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main bioactive constituents of omega-3, are not efficiently produced in humans and should consequently be taken directly from the diet, mainly by consuming fish [10]. The omega-3 fatty acids are important because they are essential for the maintenance and function of the brain in addition to cognition. Brain phospholipids are important for intact memory and cognitive functions [11]. In addition, neurodegenerative disease features a cognitive decrease paralleled by an insufficiency in blood and brain levels of DHA [12]. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplements enhance cognitive function, promote neuroplasticity, and improve neurological lesion.

Animal model for PTSD, namely the single-prolonged stress (SPS) model in rats, are very well established and widely used to study PTSD-like behaviors [13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Moreover, omega-3 is well-absorbed in the rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it is distributed to brain via the blood brain barrier [21,22,23,24]. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effect of omega-3 fatty acid on learning ability and memory functions in a rat model of PTSD-like behavior. In addition, the effect of omega-3 on oxidative stress biomarkers was investigated.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Animals and Treatment

Male Wister rats weighing 150–200 g (age: 8–10 weeks) were obtained from the animal facility at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and were used in this study. Animals were housed in plastic cages (five animals per cage) under hygienic conditions in a climate-controlled room (24 ± 1 °C) with at libitum access to rat chow and water. Rats were identified by tail labelling. They were housed under a 12 h light/dark cycle (light on: 7:00 am). All experimental procedures were applied during the light cycle. The protocol of the study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Jordan University of Science and Technology (16/3/3/170).

Animals were randomly assigned into four groups (15 rats/group): control, omega-3 fatty acids (OMG), SPS, and OMG/SPS. Animals were acclimatized for one week before the experimental manipulations were started. The PTSD and PTSD + OMG groups were subjected to the SPS model of PTSD on the first day of experiments. At the same day, the OMG and PTSD + OMG groups were started on Menhaden fish oil (24.3% EPA and DHA, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA) at a dose of 4 µL/g body weight (100 mg omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/100 g body weight (BWT)) via oral gavage daily for 6 days per week for a total of four weeks and during the radial arm water maze (RAWM) testing day. Concurrently, the control and PTSD groups were administered corn oil via oral gavage once daily. The control group was not exposed to the SPS procedure. For a particular animal, the RAWM testing was carried out on the next day right after the end of the four weeks period.

2.2. Induction of Single-Prolonged Stress Model

The SPS, which is a well-established model for PTSD-like behavior [13,25,26,27,28], was applied to animals of the PTSD and PTSD + OMG groups. Each animal was placed in a double layered plastic Ziploc bag and covered by duct tape in order to ensure complete immobilization for two hours. This was followed by forced swimming for 20 min in a transparent cylindrical container (50 cm in height; 35 cm in diameter; 35 cm water depth). After that, each animal was placed in a cage for 15 min, followed by ether anesthesia for 1–2 min until loss of consciousness.

2.3. Radial Arm Water Maze

The RAWM was used to test spatial learning and memory [13,29,30,31]. The RAWM is a standard model for testing of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, and it has been extensively used as a single test for that purpose [32,33,34,35,36,37]. It consists of six arms radiating out to an open central area to form six swimming paths with an escape platform located at the end of a goal arm that is kept constant for each particular rat during all trials/tests with different starting arm at each trial/test. All four groups were tested using the RAWM for spatial learning ability and memory performance after completing the 21-day treatment period. All experiments were carried out in a dimly lit room with visual cues fixed on the walls of the room during the experiment. Water temperature was maintained at 23 ± 1 °C. Each animal had to find the submerged platform (2 cm beneath water level) located at the end of the one swimming arm (goal arm) in one minute. There were two phases: the learning phase and the testing phase. The learning phase consisted of two sessions; each session had six trials, one minute/trial, and five minutes of rest between the two sessions. During each trial, the animal was allowed to freely swim to find the submerged platform. However, it was guided to the platform after spending one minute of swimming without finding hidden platform. Once on the platform, the animal was left there for 15 s to observe visual cues on the walls before the next trial was started. In memory tests, the animal was neither guided to the platform nor given 15 s on the platform. Each rat had to undergo 12 learning trials followed by three memory tests. The short-term memory test, which was done 30 min after the last learning trial, and the long-term memory tests, which were done 5 h and 24 h after the last learning trial. In the memory tests, each rat was given one minute to locate the hidden platform. An error was recorded when the rat entered to any arm other than the goal arm.

2.4. Brain Dissection

Animals were killed by decapitation, and the brain was immediately dissected out. The brain was then placed over filter paper impregnated with normal saline over a cold glass dish filled with crushed ice. The hippocampus was isolated and placed immediately in a previously labeled Eppendorf tube and transferred to a container filled with liquid nitrogen. Eppendorf tubes were placed at −70 °C until analysis.

2.5. Molecular Assays

The obtained hippocampus tissues were homogenized using 200 μL of homogenization buffer prepared by reconstitution of one tablet of phosphate buffered saline (Sigma Chemical CO., Saint Louis, MO, USA) and two protease inhibitor tablets (Sigma Chemical CO.) in 200 mL of distilled water using a plastic pestle [38]. The homogenized tissues were centrifuged at 15,000× g for 10 min at 4 °C in order to remove insoluble materials. The supernatant was obtained and stored for further analysis. Total protein concentration in the obtained supernatant was estimated using an available commercial kit (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA).

To quantify total glutathione, tissues homogenates were deproteinized with 5% of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) solution, centrifuged at 10,000× g for 10 min at 4 °C to remove the precipitated protein, and then assayed photometrically for glutathione according to the kit’s instructions (Glutathione assay kit, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA). For oxidized glutathione (GSSG) measurement, 10 μL of 1M 2-vinylpyridine (Glutathione assay kit, Sigma-Aldrich) was added per 1 mL of supernatant of the sample, then the procedure was carried out as described above for total glutathione. The GSH was then calculated by subtracting the GSSG value from total glutathione. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined using a cellular activity assay kit (CGP1, Sigma-Aldrich). Catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured using commercially available kits according to manufacturer instructions (SOD: Sigma-Aldrich Corp; Catalase: Cayman Chem, Ann Arbor, MI, USA). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level in the hippocampus homogenized tissue was measured using a TBARS assay kit (Cayman Chem. Com., Ann Arbor, MI, USA). Plates were read at the kit’s specified wavelengths using an automated reader (Epoch Microplate Spectrophotometer, Bio-tek instruments, Highland Park, Winooski, VT, USA).

2.6. Statistical Analysis

All statistics were carried out using the GraphPad Prism (4.0) computer program (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the number of errors in RAWM learning trials with a multiple comparison post-test. Time (repeated measures factor) and interaction with omega-3/no omega-3 and PTSD/no PTSD were used as independent group dimensions. Comparisons of the number of errors in RAWM memory tests and immunoassays results were carried out using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All values are represented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

3. Results

3.1. Effect of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or Omega-3 on Learning and Memory

In the acquisition phase, rats from all groups (Control, OMG, PTSD, PTSD + OMG) recorded high a number of errors, and then, gradually, the number of errors was reduced as the animals did more trials. No significant differences in RAWM performance were observed among all experimental groups (Figure 1). As learning trials continued, the number of errors started to gradually decrease with no observed significant interaction among treatment groups (Time: F(11,672) = 11.85, p < 0.001, all other main effects and interactions were non-significant (p > 0.05), Figure 1).

Figure 1

Omega-3 and/or single-prolonged stress (SPS) model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) did not affect learning performance. The number of errors made by each animal decreased with continued learning trials (1 through 12) without significant differences among control, PTSD, omega-3 treated animals (OMG), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treated with OMG (PTSD + OMG) groups. Each point is the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) of 15 rats.

In all short-term (30 min) and long-term (5 h and 24 h) memory tests, significant differences were detected between OMG treated and non-OMG treated groups, and/or PTSD versus non-PTSD groups. Additionally, the presence of both factors, OMG and PTSD, resulted in significant interactions in all memory tests (short-term memory test: F(1,56) = 19.25, p < 0.001, Figure 2A; long-term 5 h memory test: F(1,56) = 29.46, p < 0.001, Figure 2B; long-term 24 h memory test: F(1,56) = 41.17, p < 0.001, Figure 2C).

Figure 2

Omega-3 prevents short- and long-term memory impairment induced by the SPS model of PTSD. (A) Short-term memory test (trial after 30 min), (B) and (C) long-term memory tests after 5 h and 24 h, respectively, among control, PTSD, OMG, and PTSD treated with OMG (PTSD + OMG) groups. * Indicate significant difference from all other groups (p < 0.05). Each point is the mean ± SEM of 15 animals.

3.2. Effect of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or Omega-3 on Hippocampus Oxidative Stress Markers

There was a significant reduction in the level of GSH in the PTSD group compared to control, OMG, and PTSD + OMG groups (F(1,56) = 8.16, p < 0.05, Figure 3A). On the other hand, GSSG (the oxidized from of glutathione) was significantly increased (F(1,56) = 9.24, p < 0.01, p ˂ 0.05) in the SPS group compared to other groups (Figure 3B). Additionally, a significant decrease (F(1,56) = 13.64, p < 0.001) was detected in the GSH/GSSG ratio in the PTSD group compared to other groups. These results indicate that omega-3 treatment prevented alterations in the levels of GSSG and the GSH/GSSG ratio (Figure 3C). The activity of GPx was reduced in the PTSD group compared to the control (F(1,56) = 16.16, p < 0.001, Figure 4A). Administration of omega-3 prevented SPS induced reduction in GPx activity (F(1,56) = 16.16, p < 0.001, Figure 4A). The SPS model of PTSD significantly decreased hippocampal catalase activity compared to the control group (F(1,56) = 9.09, p < 0.01, Figure 4B). Administration of omega-3 prevented the reduction in catalase activity induced by PTSD (Figure 4B). There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) detected in the activity of SOD in the hippocampus among all experimental groups (F(1,56) = 0.36, p > 0.05, Figure 4C).

Figure 3

Effect of omga-3 and/or SPS model of PTSD on the levels of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and GSH/GSSG ratio in the hippocampus. (A) Hippocampal GSH levels, (B) hippocampal GSSG levels, and (C) hippocampal GSH/GSSG ratio. Among control, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), omega-3 treated animals (OMG), and PTSD treated with OMG (PTSD + OMG) groups. * Indicate significant difference relative to other groups (p < 0.05). Each point is the mean ± SEM of 15 rats.

Figure 4

Effect of omega-3 and/or SPS model of PTSD on the activity of anti-oxidative stress enzymes in the hippocampus. (A) Hippocampal GPx activity, (B) hippocampal catalase activity, and (C) hippocampal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity among control, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), omega-3 treated animals (OMG), and PTSD treated with OMG (PTSD + OMG) groups. * Indicate significant difference relative to other groups (p < 0.05). Each point is the mean ± SEM of 15 rats.

3.3. Effect of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or Omega-3 on the Hippocampal Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species

The SPS significantly increased TBARS levels when compared to other groups (F(1,56) = 7.80, p < 0.05). Omega-3 administration normalized this elevation, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Changes in hippocampal thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels: Levels of TBARS were significantly increased in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to other experimental groups. Moreover, the levels of TBARS were similar in the omega-3 treated (OMG), PTSD treated with OMG (PTSD + OMG), and control groups. * Indicate significant difference relative to control (p < 0.05). Each point is the mean ± SEM of 15 rats.

4. Discussion

The present study aims to identify the possible protective effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on improving learning ability, enhancing short- and long-term memory, and reducing oxidative stress levels in an SPS rat model. The SPS is a rodent model of traumatic stress exposure that produces key PTSD phenotypes such as impairment in both learning and memory [15,25,39,40,41]. Current results are consistent with previous findings that examined short- and long-term memory impairments in rats exposed to SPS as a model of PTSD [40,42,43]. Administration of omega-3 prevented both short- and long-term memory impairment in OMG/PTSD. Current findings are in agreement with results of other studies that examined the protective effects of omega-3 on cognitive impairment associated with different conditions [44,45].

In rat model of traumatic brain injury [46], memory impairments were associated with significant declines in antioxidant mechanisms. Similarly, current results showed that SPS significantly decreased hippocampal antioxidants, mainly GSH and the GSH/GSSG ratio, and activities of GPx and catalase. These findings suggest that oxidative stress leads to brain neuronal damage and memory impairment. Several studies link oxidative stress to cognitive impairments in a number of health conditions, such as in rat model of social stress [47], sporadic dementia of Alzheimer’s type [48], sleep deprivation [49], consumption of high-fat diet [29], and PTSD [13,25]. Interestingly, we show that treatment with omega-3 prevented PTSD-induced cognitive impairments and reduced oxidative stress biomarkers. These findings are consistent with findings of previous studies [13,25]. It has been found that omega-3 enriched dietary supplements attenuate traumatic brain injury in rats and reduce plasticity and learning ability impairment [46]. In addition, omega-3 was shown to reduce the risk of age-related brain impairments [50], improve cognition in older adult women [51], facilitate functional recovery after ischemic brain damage [44], and prevent post-traumatic distress after accidental injury [52]. The PTSD was also revealed to impair memory by increasing oxidant biomarkers such as GSSG level in the hippocampus tissue. Current results are consistent with our previous studies in PTSD rat model [25,41].

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances are byproducts of lipid peroxidation and markers of oxidative stress. Following spatial learning and memory tests, hippocampal levels of TBARS were significantly increased compared to other groups. Notably, high TBARS level were also reported in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of animals exposed to restraint stress [53,54]. Interestingly, omega-3 prevented TBARS elevations, which is consistent with decreased plasma TBARS following omega-3 supplementation in rats [55]. In addition, omega-3 induced a reduction of TBARS levels in rats’ corpus stratium [56]. On other hand, no differences in plasma TBARS were observed after fish oil supplementation in a rat model of streptozotocin induced diabetes [57].

In conclusion, this study shows a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acid against PTSD-induced short- and long-term memory impairment, possibly through preventing alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers in the hippocampus of PTSD animals.