Effect of Methylmercury on Depression like Behavior in Rats: a Study Mitigated by Exogenous Vitamins

Depression is a heterogenous, multifaceted disorder with symptoms manifested at the psychological, behavioral and physiological level. Therefore, present study was designed as a model to analyze the long lasting effects of methylmercury chloride in male rats with a focus on depression like behavior. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were exposed orally to a dose of 2 mg/kg of methylmercury chloride, 100 mg/kg vitamin-E and 100 mg/kg acetyl-L-carnitine alone or in combination for 14 days. The total treatment time was 28 days. On 29th day, the animals were tested for tail suspension test and force swim test. Methylmercury-exposed rats displayed significantly longer immobility time (passive floating without limb movements) in both the tests than control animals. Vitamins significantly reduced the immobility period in rats thus offered protection against methylmercury-induced increment in depression like behavior. These findings point to early exposure to environmental contaminants as a possible risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders. Keywords: Methylmercury, Depression, Rats, Vitamins