Sesame Oil and Its Component Oleic Acid Ameliorate Behavioral and Biochemical Alterations in Socially Isolated Rats

Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in behavioral changes due to social isolation. The influence of natural products for the treatment of nervous system damages has been the subject of several investigations. For example, sesame oil and its major compound -oleic acid- have a neuroprotective effect. Therefore, we studied the effect of sesame oil and oleic acid on hippocampal oxidative stress and some behavioral deficits in socially isolated rats. Adult male Wistar rats were isolated socially during 8 consecutive weeks and treated with sesame oil (4 ml/kg, by gavage) or oleic acid (1500 mu l/kg, intraperitoneally). Social isolation increased malondialdehyde levels, lowered reduced glutathione content, and increased catalase activity in the hippocampus. Social isolation also diminished time spent in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test and decreased the percentage of open arm entrance and time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus-maze. Both sesame oil and oleic acid could prevent the mentioned changes in isolated animals. We concluded that sesame oil and oleic acid prevent memory impairment and anxiety in isolated rats, and these effects are associated with a strengthening of the hippocampal antioxidant system.