Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011· OSTI ID:21587834

Trabace, L ^[1]; Zotti, M; Morgese, M G; Tucci, P; Colaianna, M; Schiavone, S ^[1]; Avato, P ^[2]; Cuomo, V ^[3]

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1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Foggia, V. le Luigi Pinto 1, 71121 Foggia (Italy)
2. Department of Pharmaco-Chemistry, University of Bari, 'A. Moro', Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari (Italy)
3. Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, Vittorio Erspamer, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome (Italy)

Carvacrol is the major constituent of essential oils from aromatic plants. It showed antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Although it was approved for food use and included in the chemical flavorings list, no indication on its safety has been estimated. Since the use of plant extracts is relatively high among women, aim of this study was to evaluate carvacrol effects on female physiology and endocrine profiles by using female rats in proestrus and diestrus phases. Serotonin and metabolite tissue content in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, after carvacrol administration (0.15 and 0.45 g/kg p.o.), was measured. Drug effects in behavioral tests for alterations in motor activity, depression, anxiety-related behaviors and endocrine alterations were also investigated. While in proestrus carvacrol reduced serotonin and metabolite levels in both brain areas, no effects were observed in diestrus phase. Only in proestrus phase, carvacrol induced a depressive-like behavior in forced swimming test, without accompanying changes in ambulation. The improvement of performance in FST after subchronic treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) suggested a specific involvement of serotonergic system. No differences were found across the groups with regard to self-grooming behavior. Moreover, in proestrus phase, carvacrol reduced only estradiol levels without binding hypothalamic estradiol receptors. Our study showed an estrous-stage specific effect of carvacrol on depressive behaviors and endocrine parameters, involving serotonergic system. Given the wide carvacrol use not only as feed additive, but also as cosmetic essence and herbal remedy, our results suggest that an accurate investigation on the effects of its chronic exposure is warranted. - Highlights: > Carvacrol induced a depressive-like phenotype in rats, depending on ovarian cyclicity. > Carvacrol selectively reduced serotonin content in female rats in proestrus phase. > Carvacrol reduced serotonin levels in areas belonging to the emotional circuit. > Carvacrol reduced plasma estradiol levels only during the proestrus phase.

• OSTI ID: 21587834
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 255, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011; PII: S0041-008X(11)00233-X; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANTIOXIDANTS
ESSENTIAL OILS
ESTRADIOL
ESTROUS CYCLE
FOOD
PLANTS
RATS
SEROTONIN
WOMEN
AMINES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZAARENES
AZOLES
DRUGS
ESTRANES
ESTROGENS
FEMALES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOLES
MAMMALS
MAN
NEUROREGULATORS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PYRROLES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TRYPTAMINES
VERTEBRATES