Slow‑releasing CO donor CORM‑A1 modulates depression‑like behavior in experimental model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Abstract

Chronic pain conditions are often linked with depression, a common chronic mental health disorder that severely impairs quality of life. This association is particularly present in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). CP/CPPS is a prevalent urological disorder characterized by pelvic pain accompanied by neuropsychiatric comorbidities such as  depression, for which underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Recently, anti‑inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of carbon monoxide‑releasing molecules (CORMs) have been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CO releaser, CORM‑A1 could have beneficial effects on depressive‑like behavior in an animal model of CP/CPPS. Adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (Sham‑PBS, Sham‑CORM, CP/CPPS‑PBS and CP/CPPS‑CORM), receiving intraprostatic injections of saline or λ‑carrageenan, followed by daily treatments with PBS or CORM‑A1 for seven days. Pain thresholds were measured by von Frey esthesiometer, while depression‑like behaviors were  assessed by the forced swimming test (FST). CP/CPPS rats exhibited mechanical hyperalgesia which has been significantly diminished by CORM‑A1 administration. CORM‑A1 treatment caused a significant decrease in floating time and a significant increase in swimming time in CP/CPPS rats compared to those treated with vehicle (CP/CPPS‑PBS group). Correlation analysis showed a significant link between pain threshold and FST floating time as indicator of depressive‑like behaviors. These findings suggest that CORM‑A1 beneficially modulates pain perception and depressive‑like behaviors in CP/CPPS rats.