Low-Level Laser Irradiation Improves Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice

Zhiqiang Xu, Xiaobo Guo, Yong Yang, Donovan Tucker, Yujiao Lu, Ning Xin, Gaocai Zhang, Lingli Yang, Jizhen Li, Xiangdong Du, Quanguang Zhang, Xingshun Xu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading forms of psychiatric disorders, characterized by aversion to mobility, neurotransmitter deficiency, and energy metabolic decline. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been investigated in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and functional impairments. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of LLLT on depression-like behaviors and to explore the potential mechanism by detecting mitochondrial function following LLLT. Depression models in space restriction mice and Abelson helper integration site-1 (Ahi1) knockout (KO) mice were employed in this work. Our results revealed that LLLT effectively improved depression-like behaviors, in the two depression mice models, by decreasing immobility duration in behavioral despair tests. In addition, ATP biosynthesis and the level of mitochondrial complex IV expression and activity were significantly elevated in prefrontal cortex (PFC) following LLLT. Intriguingly, LLLT has no effects on ATP content and mitochondrial complex I–IV levels in other tested brain regions, hippocampus and hypothalamus. As a whole, these findings shed light on a novel strategy of transcranial LLLT on depression improvement by ameliorating neurotransmitter abnormalities and promoting mitochondrial function in PFC. The present work provides concrete groundwork for further investigation of LLLT for depression treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4551-4559
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular Neurobiology
Volume54
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Low-level laser therapy
  • Mitochondria
  • Neurotransmitter deficiency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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