Ferulic acid supplementation ameliorates lindane neurotoxicity: The effects on anxiety-like behavior

Lindane is organochloride environmentally persistent pollutant used manly as pesticide. Neurotoxicity of lindane is manifested through cellular and behavioral changes including expression of anxiety, seizures and lethal outcome in higher doses. Ferulic acid is polyphenol organic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in different tissues including neuroprotective effects in acute and chronic application. We hypothesized that it could ameliorate some of the lindane neurotoxic effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ferulic acid chronic supplementation on anxiety-like behavior in lindane-treated rats. All experiments were done in adult Wistar rats. Ferulic acid chronic supplementation (40 mg/kg, i.p. per day, during 30 days) or vehicle were concomitantly administered with low-doses of lindane. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed by battery of ethological tests including elevated plus maze test (EPM) and light-dark test (LD). Number of transitions and time in open arms were analyzed in EPM, as well as number of L/D transitions and time in light part in LD testResults of our study showed that rats undergoing ferulic acid supplementation are less susceptible for development of anxiety-like behavior. Namely, number of transitions in EPM, as well as in LD were significantly higher (p<0.05) in these rats compared to vehicle-treated rats. Ferulic acid supplemented rats spend significantly more time in open arms during EPM than vehicle-treated.In conclusion, results of this study showed that ferulic supplementation could be used as a possible strategy to prevent neurotoxic effects of lindane in domain of anxiety-like behavior. Supported by FA4Lin by Serbian Ministry of Science and TUBITAK