Effects of β-sitosterol on anxiety in migraine-induced rats: The role of oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial function

Aims

Anxiety often coexists with migraine, and both conditions share a commonality in oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to their pathogenesis. β-Sitosterol, a plant sterol, has shown promise in mitigating oxidative/nitrosative stress, enhancing mitochondrial function, and exerting neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the impact of β-sitosterol on migraine-associated anxiety and whether this effect was associated with alleviation of oxidative/nitrosative stress and improvement in mitochondrial function.

Methods

Nitroglycerin was used to induce migraine in adult male Wistar rats. β-Sitosterol treatment consisted of daily intraperitoneal injections (10 mg/kg) for 10 days following migraine induction. Anxiety levels were evaluated using open-field test (OFT) and hole-board test (HBT). Frontal cortex samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, nitric oxide (NO) (markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress), and ATP (indicator of mitochondrial function).

Results

Migraine induction led to impaired performance in both the OFT and the HBT. Concurrently, it elevated MDA, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, and NO levels while diminishing GSH levels in the frontal cortex, signifying heightened oxidative/nitrosative stress. Moreover, ATP levels decreased, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment with β-sitosterol significantly restored performance in both behavioral assays and normalized the levels of MDA, GSH, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, NO, and ATP.

Conclusion

β-Sitosterol exerted anxiolytic effects in migraine, which can be attributed to its ability to ameliorate oxidative/nitrosative stress and enhance mitochondrial function.