Effects of maintenance electroshock on mitochondrial respiratory chain and creatine kinase activities in the rat brain

Reus GZ, Stringari RB, Rezin GT, Pezente DP, Scaini G, Maggi DD, De-Nes BT, Streck EL, Quevedo J, Feier G. Effects of maintenance electroshock on mitochondrial respiratory chain and creatine kinase activities in the rat brain. Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy is used efficacious treatment for a variety of complicated psychiatric disorders and evidences have indicated that energy metabolism impairment may be involved in pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders. This work was performed to determine creatine kinase and mitochondrial respiratory chain activities at different times after the maintenance electroconvulsive shock (ECS). Methods: Male Wistar rats received a protocol mimicking therapeutic of maintenance or simulated ECS (sham) and were subsequently sacrificed immediately after, 48 h and 7 days after the last maintenance ECS. We measured creatine kinase and mitochondrial respiratory chain activities in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum and striatum. Results: Our results showed that maintenance ECS alter respiratory chain complexes and creatine kinase activities in the rat brain, but these effects were related to brain area and time after the ECS, in which the animal were killed. Conclusion: Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that alteration on the energy metabolism could be involved in the therapeutic or adverse effects of ECS.