DOI: 10.1515/med-2026-1406 ISSN: 2391-5463

Effect of adalimumab on anxiety-depression-like behaviors and learning in rats receiving cisplatin

Durmuş Ali Aslanlar, Mehmet Öz, F. Hümeyra Yerlikaya Aydemir, K.Esra Nurullahoglu Atalik

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the neuroprotective effects of adalimumab against cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) and to evaluate its potential to ameliorate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors as well as learning and memory deficits through modulation of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)–mediated neuroinflammation, cholinergic homeostasis, and apoptosis.

Methods

Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6/group): Control, Cisplatin (2 mg/kg/day, i.p., 10 days), ADA (10 mg/kg, i.p., three doses), and Cisplatin + ADA. Anxiety-, depression-like behaviors and memory performance were assessed using the open field test, elevated plus maze, forced swim test, and novel object recognition test. Serum and hippocampal TNF-α, nitric oxide (NO), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylcholine (ACh), and p53 levels were measured by ELISA.

Results

Cisplatin induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and impaired recognition memory without affecting locomotor activity. These behavioral alterations were accompanied by increased TNF-α, NO, AChE, and p53 levels in the hippocampus. ADA treatment significantly reversed behavioral deficits and normalized inflammatory, cholinergic, and stress-related markers.

Conclusions

Adalimumab attenuates cisplatin-induced cognitive and mood disturbances, likely through modulation of TNF-α–mediated neuroinflammation, cholinergic imbalance, and stress-related signaling pathways.

More from our Archive