Photobiomodulation Therapy Ameliorates Glutamatergic Dysfunction in Mice with Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Depression

Figure 1

Antidepressant effects of PBMT in CUMS- and CORT-induced mouse models of depression. (a) The experimental design of CUMS, treatment schedule, and behavioral tests. (b–d) PBMT significantly attenuated the decreased sucrose preference induced by CUMS but did not affect total fluid consumption. (e, f) PBMT significantly attenuated the increased immobility time of FST and TST induced by CUMS. (g) Glutamate concentration in CUMS-exposed mice was significantly higher than that in control mice, and PBMT could restore glutamate levels to normal ( per group). (h) The experimental design of CORT, treatment schedule, and behavioral tests. (i–k) PBMT significantly attenuated the decreased sucrose preference induced by CORT but did not affect total fluid consumption. (l, m) PBMT significantly attenuated the increased immobility time of FST and TST induced by CORT. Number of mice used in behavior tests: control/vehicle, mice; CUMS, mice; CUMS+PBMT, mice; CORT, mice; and CORT+PBMT, mice. Data represent . ns: not significant. , , and , one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis. CUMS: chronic unpredictable mild stress; CORT: mice treated with corticosterone at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 28 days; PBMT: photobiomodulation therapy; SPT: sucrose preference test; FST: forced swimming test; TST: tail suspension test.

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