Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, reverses depressive-like behavior in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition characterized by consistent psychological distress resulting from the experience of intense traumatic events, such as warfare or natural disasters. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely prescribed treatments for PTSD, but their adverse side effects are a significant concern and they have only limited efficacy as a symptomatic treatment for PTSD. Moreover, they have no effect on the core underlying causes of PTSD Studies have reported a potential neuroprotective effect for Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLTi). This study utilized the single-prolonged stress (SPS) mouse model of PTSD, which involved sequential exposure to different stressors (2 hours of restraint, 20 minutes of forced swimming, 15 minutes of rest, and 1–2 minutes of diethyl ether exposure), to investigate the therapeutic potential of Dapagliflozin (DAPA), a novel SGLTi, in mitigating the SPS-induced depressive-like behavior. Methods: Male mice were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: Control group, SPS group, DAPA group (dapagliflozin; 1 mg/kg/day by oral gavage for 7 days), and SPS+DAPA group. Behavioral assessments for depressive-like behaviors were evaluated using the forced swim test and the tail suspension test. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for analysis stress markers. Results: SPS-treated mice showed significant depressive-like behavior on the seventh day post-treatment, which was reversed by DAPA treatment (1 mg/kg/day). Significant increases in brain tissue mRNA expression of Crh, Bax, Il1b, and Bdnf, as well as serum corticosterone, were observed in the SPS group, while DAPA reversed these effects. Conclusion: This data indicates that DAPA (1 mg/kg) has potential therapeutic effects for the treatment of PTSD-induced depressive-like symptoms.