Role of purinergic signaling pathways in the adaptogenic-like activity of methyl jasmonate in rats exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress

Objectives Purinergic signaling pathway has been implicated in maladaptation of animals subjected to chronic stress. Previous studies have shown that methyl jasmonate (MJ) exhibited adaptogenic properties in mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) via antioxidant and neuroprotective-related mechanisms. Methods This study evaluated the role of purinergic system in adaptogenic-like activity of MJ. Male Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle (10 mL/kg) or MJ (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) 30 min prior exposure to UCMS. Thereafter, rats were assessed for swimming endurance in forced swim test (FST) and post-swimming motor coordination on beam walk test (BWT) apparatus. The rats' brains were processed for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine deaminase, and arginase quantification. Hematological parameters, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, and urea nitrogen were also determined. Results MJ prolonged swimming endurance time and reversed stress-induced post-swimming motor dysfunction. The altered hematological parameters induced by UCMS in rats were significantly (p<0.05) attenuated by MJ. MJ also reversed UCMS-induced alterations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, and urea nitrogen levels. MJ averted UCMS-induced alterations in purinergic system by decreasing ATP and ADP hydrolysis, adenosine deaminase, and arginase activities in rats' brains. Conclusions Overall, these findings further suggest that MJ has adaptogenic-like activity in rats exposed to UCMS, which may be related to modulation of the purinergic signaling pathway.

Keywords: adaptogen; anti-fatigue; chronic unpredictable mild stress; methyl jasmonate; purinergic signaling.