Bergamot essential oil improves CUMS‐induced depression‐like behaviour in rats by protecting the plasticity of hippocampal neurons.

Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is an extract of the bergamot fruit with significant neuroprotective effect. This study was to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanism of BEO in mitigating depression. GC–MS were used to identify its constituents. Antidepressive properties of BEO were evaluated by sucrose preference test (SPT), force swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT). Nissl staining was used to determine the number of Nissl bodies in hippocampus (HIPP) of rats. Changes in HIPP dendritic length and dendritic spine density were detected by Golgi‐Cox staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the postsynaptic density protein‐95 (PSD‐95) and synaptophysin (SYP) in the HIPP of rats. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in the HIPP, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats. Inhaled BEO significantly improved depressive behaviour in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. BEO increased Nissl bodies, dendritic length and spine density, PSD‐95 and SYP protein in the HIPP. Additionally, BEO upregulated serum 5‐HT, serum and CSF IGF‐1, while downregulating serum IL‐1β. Collectively, inhaled BEO mitigates depression by protecting the plasticity of hippocampal neurons, hence, providing novel insights into treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]