Bipolar disorder (BD) is a
psychiatric disease characterized by mood episodes. Blueberry is rich in bioactive compounds and shows excellent therapeutic potential against
chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of
blueberry extract on behavior, energetic metabolism, Ca2+-
ATPase activity, and levels of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats submitted to an animal model of
mania induced by
ketamine. Vehicle,
lithium (45 mg/kg, twice a day), or
blueberry extract (200 mg/kg), was orally administered to Wistar rats for 14 days.
Ketamine (25 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally, once a day, between the 8th and 14th day. On the 15th day, animals received
ketamine or vehicle and were subjected to the open field test. Our results demonstrated that the administration of
lithium and
blueberry extract prevented
ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion (P < 0.01).
Blueberry extract attenuated the
ketamine-induced reduction in the activity of complex I in the cerebral cortex (P < 0.05). Additionally, the administration of
ketamine reduced the activities of complexes I and IV (P < 0.05) and
citrate synthase in the hippocampus (P < 0.01). However,
blueberry extract attenuated the inhibition in the activity of complex IV (P < 0.01). Furthermore,
ketamine reduced the Ca2+-
ATPase activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (P < 0.05); however,
blueberry extract prevented the change in the cerebral cortex (P < 0.05). There were no significant alterations in the levels of
BDNF (P > 0.05). In conclusion, this suggested that the
blueberry extract can serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for studies searching for novel therapeutic alternatives for BD patients.