Saccharin deprivation increases depression and anxiety levels through oxidative stress biochemical mechanisms
Saccharin deprivation increases depression and anxiety levels through oxidative stress biochemical mechanisms

Summary/Abstract: Saccharin is a low-calorie artificial sweetener that has been extensively used in food products since 1879. It has been proven in various studies that saccharin can stimulate the brain centers of pleasure and reward centers in the brain. These brain centers are also proven to be active in alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, we wanted to study in the present paper the repercussions of saccharin withdrawal on oxidative stress levels and then on depression and anxiety-like behavior of rats. Our experimental design included 40 lab rats divided into two groups, 20 rats in each group. The first group of rats had unlimited access to water and saccharin bottles. The second group was considered the control group and had access only to water. After 4 weeks, the rats in the saccharin group were deprived of saccharin for 14 days to allow sufficient time for deprivation episodes to occur. Our statistical analysis revealed that saccharin withdrawal produced a decrease in catalase activity and as a result an increase in oxidative stress level. Furthermore, saccharin deprivation was associated with an increase in the duration of immobility time in the popular forced swim test and a decrease in the time the rats spent exploring the central area of the open field test. Therefore, saccharin deprivation seems to produce high levels of oxidative stress which may lead to depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rats. In conclusion, deprivation from the non-drug reinforcer saccharin produces anxiety and depression-like effects on rats by decreasing the level of certain antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase. These effects are often seen in withdrawn models of abused drugs or alcohol.

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