Pretreatment with a mixture of essential fatty acids protects rats from anxiogenic effects of REM deprivation.

Rapid eye movements (REM) deprivation induces complex deteriorating effects, which include brain morphological changes such as reduced neurogenesis processes, brain neurochemical and hormonal modifications, and cognitive decline. One of the major effects of REM deprivation is an increased anxiety level. The aim of this study was to examine the effects ofpretreatment with a specific mixture of essential fatty acids on the increased level of anxiety on the behavioral level (elevated plus maze), on the hormonal level (corticosterone level) and on the physiological level (thermoregulation). The results showed that pretreatment with a mixture of essential fatty acids protect the rats from the anxiolytic effects of REM deprivation. The effects of essential fatty acids on sleep mechanisms, on the one hand, and on anxiety levels, on the other hand, may explain the beneficial effects of the pretreatment.