The Effects of Citalopram, Swimming, and Treadmill Exercises on Learning and Spatial Memory of Male Wistar Rats under Stress

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Several factors such as stress disturb learning and memory, and interfere with normal human life. The present study aimed to compare the effects of citalopram, aerobic exercise with treadmill, and swimming on learning and memory among stressed rats. Methods: The animals were exposed to different interventions such as immobility stress, running with gentle intensity, exercise in water, taking citalopram at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight for four weeks, and a combination of these interventions with stress or without intervention. Results: The results showed that stress affects learning and memory based on the distance traveled to the platform. The exercises counteracted stress-induced functional impairment, and swimming had a positive effect on learning and memory in stressed rats. However, contrary to expectations, taking citalopram did not prevent stress-induced dysfunction. In stress-free conditions, the interactive effects of treadmill and swimming training between sports groups (swimming and treadmill), control group, and stress groups were not significant. None of these interventions affected the recall. However, they were effective only in the acquisition phase. Conclusions: Exercising especially swimming, could be a substitute medication intervention since the effect of exercise with treadmill and that of water significantly differed by using citalopram while placing in stressful situations.