THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS MODES OF INTERVAL HYPOXIC TRAINING IN EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN RATS

Abstract

The development of non-drug methods for correcting stress-induced disorders and improving adaptation to stressful factors remains an urgent task of physiology, which has a great translational potential. Previously, we proposed effective methods of hypoxic hypobaric preconditioning and distant ischemic conditioning in this regard. The purpose of this work was to transfer the principles of preconditioning to the approaches of normobaric intermittent hypoxic training (IHT). The effects of five new IHT regimens (3 five-minute sessions of hypoxia of 16% O2 per day, 3 sessions of 12% O2, 7 sessions of 12% O2, 15 sessions of 12% O2, 3 sessions of 9% O2) were studied in experimental models of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in rats. The preconditioning regime of high intensity 3x9%O2 had the most pronounced antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in models of both pathologies. With a decrease in the level of hypoxia to 12% O2, IHT regimens partially retained their effectiveness with an increase in the number of sessions. The training regime of the longest duration – 15 × 12%O2, was effective in correcting the formation of experimental depression. The intermediate regime – 7 × 12%O2, had an anxiolytic effect, while the preconditioning regime of medium intensity – 3 × 12%O2, demonstrated both an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect. The results indicate that the intensity of hypoxic exposure had the greatest impact on the effectiveness. At the same time, a decrease in the intensity to 16% O2 led to a weakening or loss of stress-protective properties. With regard to the 3 × 9%O2 regime as the most promising, it is advisable to conduct further studies to identify the molecular mechanisms that implement its stress-protective and anxiolytic effects.