Effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation and exercise on depression like behaviors and raphe 5 HT neurons in mice
[Purpose] The effects of creatine and exercise on chronic stress induced depression are unclear. In the present study, we identified the effects of 4 week supplementation of creatine monohydrate and/or exercise on antidepressant behavior and raphe 5 HT expression in a chronic mild stress induced depressed mouse model. [Methods] Seven week old male C57BL/6 mice (n=48) were divided randomly into 5 groups: (1) non stress control (CON, n=10) (2) stress control (ST CON, n=10) (3) stress and creatine intake (ST Cr, n=10) (4) stress and exercise (ST Ex, n=9) and (5) combined stress, exercise, and creatine intake (ST Cr+Ex, n=9) After five weeks' treatment, we investigated using both anti behavior tests (the Tail Suspension Test (TST) and the Forced Swimming Test (FST) and 5 HT expression in the raphe nuclei (the dorsal raphe (DR) and median raphe (MnR) [Results] Stress for 4 weeks significantly increased depressive behaviors in the mice. Treatment with creatine supplementation combined with exercise significantly decreased depressive behaviors as compared with the CON ST group in both the TST and FST tests. With stress, 5 HT expression in the raphe nuclei decreased significantly. With combined creatine and exercise, 5 HT positive cells increased significantly and had a synergic effect on both DR and MnR. [Conclusion] The present study found that even a single treatment of creatine or exercise has partial effects as an antidepressant in mice with chronic mild stress induced depression. Furthermore, combined creatine and exercise has synergic effects and is a more effective prescription than a single treatment.
Journal of exercise nutrition biochemistry