Comparative effects of MgO nanoparticles and conventional MgO on anxiety and serum biochemical parameters in sleep deprivation model of rat

Objective(s): MgO nanoparticles (MgO NPs) could be effective on anxiety-related behaviors in animal models but their exact mechanism of action compared to their conventional form (C MgO) is unclear. This study investigated and compared the effect of MgO NPs and its conventional form on anxiety-related behavior in the sleep-deprived rats and biochemical parameters changes in the serum. Methods: Male Wistar rats (180-220g) were divided into groups of control, sleep deprivation induction, and 72 h sleep deprivation+ different doses of MgO NPs or C MgO. Components were injected a day after sleep deprivation induction and 30 min after injection animals passed anxiety test. Multiple platforms method was used for sleep deprivation induction. Serum oxidant/ antioxidant parameters, magnesium, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were assessed after anxiety test. Results: Sleep deprivation decreased anxiety-related behavior without change in the serum biochemical parameters. The anxiolytic effect of sleep deprivation decreased in the MgO NPs 1 mg/kg group. C MgO showed limited antioxidant activity, while MgO NPs did not change oxidant /antioxidant parameters, just the serum magnesium increased in the MgO NPs 10 mg/kg group.  Conclusions: MgO NPs changed anxiety behavior without changing the oxidant/antioxidant factors, while C MgO changed some antioxidant factors but did not affect anxiety behavior. Therefore, the place or extent of action of MgO NPs and C MgO on anxiety-related behaviors is different (central or peripheral), which needs more investigation.