Endocannabinoid involvement in beneficial effects of caloric restriction in a rodent model of comorbid depression and epilepsy

Clinically, patients with depression are at a heightened risk for developing epilepsy, and vice versa, suggesting shared mechanisms for this bidirectional comorbidity. Unfortunately, comorbid depression and epilepsy is associated with worsened quality of life and treatment refractoriness, highlighting the need for novel treatment targets and nonpharmacologic supplements to existing therapies. The present study used the Swim-Low Active rat, a well-validated model of depression and epilepsy comorbidity that was selectively bred based on forced swim test behavior, to assess the safety and efficacy of caloric restriction in treating this comorbidity. The study also investigated the role of endocannabinoids in the effects of caloric restriction on the behavioral endpoints and to determine whether there were any sex differences in these effects. Male rats restricted to approximately 80 % of their daily food intake for an acute 24-h period showed elevated struggling behavior in the Porsolt (Forced) Swim Test and increased latency to pilocarpine-induced seizure; this same caloric restriction yielded a significant increase in hippocampal anandamide levels compared to ad lib rats. These effects were not seen in female rats, although female rats did show anticonvulsant effects of chronic caloric restriction. Administration of 1 mg/kg SR141716 alongside an acute caloric restriction in male rats blocked the antidepressant-like effects of caloric restriction but did not affect seizure responses. Combined, these results suggest caloric restriction may be both safe and modestly effective in benefitting depression- and epilepsy-related behaviors in male SwLo rats, and that the endocannabinoid system may be a promising target for treating this comorbidity. •SwLo rats are a model of depression and epilepsy comorbidity.•Acute caloric restriction boosts forced swim struggle in male SwLo, but not female.•Acute caloric restriction increases onset to seizure in male, but not female, SwLo.•These effects are modulated at least in part by anandamide and CB1 signaling.•Caloric restriction affects depression and epilepsy in sexually dimorphic ways.