scholarly journals Electroacupuncture Restores 5-HT System Deficit in Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Depressed Rats

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongmei Duan ◽  
Ya Tu ◽  
Xiuyan Yang ◽  
Ping Liu

Objective.The current study is designed to investigate the antidepressant efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment by evaluating its effect on the synthesis, metabolism, reuptake, and receptors of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), so as to clarify the molecular mechanisms of EA for antidepression.Materials and Methods.Solitary combined with the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to establish the rat model with depression. The depressed rats were supplied with EA treatment for 4 weeks, and the behavior change and the following indices including 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), 5-HT transporter (SERT), 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were examined.Results.EA treatment significantly improved the behavior of rats and increased 5-HT level in hippocampus of depressed rats. Similarly, EA treatment could significantly increase protein and mRNA expression of TPH and 5-HT1A during 5-HT synthesis process in hippocampus of depressed rats. However, EA treatment had no effect on the activity of MAO-A and the expression of SERT protein and mRNA.Conclusion.Antidepressant efficacy of EA treatment can be accomplished through enhancing 5-HT synthesis, upregulating 5-HT1A level, and improving 5-HT content in brain and synaptic gaps.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1040
Author(s):  
Dolors Puigoriol-Illamola ◽  
Júlia Companys-Alemany ◽  
Kris McGuire ◽  
Natalie Z. M. Homer ◽  
Rosana Leiva ◽  
...  

Impaired glucocorticoid (GC) signaling is a significant factor in aging, stress, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the study of GC-mediated stress responses to chronic moderately stressful situations, which occur in daily life, is of huge interest for the design of pharmacological strategies toward the prevention of neurodegeneration. To address this issue, SAMP8 mice were exposed to the chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm for 4 weeks and treated with RL-118, an 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitor. The inhibition of this enzyme is linked with a reduction in GC levels and cognitive improvement, while CMS exposure has been associated with reduced cognitive performance. The aim of this project was to assess whether RL-118 treatment could reverse the deleterious effects of CMS on cognition and behavioral abilities and to evaluate the molecular mechanisms that compromise healthy aging in SAMP8 mice. First, we confirmed the target engagement between RL-118 and 11β-HSD1. Additionally, we showed that DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation, and histone phosphorylation were decreased by CMS induction, and increased by RL-118 treatment. In addition, CMS exposure caused the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage and increased pro-oxidant enzymes—as well as pro-inflammatory mediators—through the NF-κB pathway and astrogliosis markers, such as GFAP. Of note, these modifications were reversed by 11β-HSD1 inhibition. Remarkably, although CMS altered mTORC1 signaling, autophagy was increased in the SAMP8 RL-118-treated mice. We also showed an increase in amyloidogenic processes and a decrease in synaptic plasticity and neuronal remodeling markers in mice under CMS, which were consequently modified by RL-118 treatment. In conclusion, 11β-HSD1 inhibition through RL-118 ameliorated the detrimental effects induced by CMS, including epigenetic and cognitive disturbances, indicating that GC-excess attenuation shows potential as a therapeutic strategy for age-related cognitive decline and AD.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Słopień ◽  
A. Słopień ◽  
A. Różycka ◽  
A. Warenik-Szymankiewicz ◽  
M. Lianeri ◽  
...  

Objective. The aim of the study was an evaluation of possible relationships between polymorphisms of serotoninergic system genes and the risk of depression in postmenopausal women.Methods. We studied 332 women admitted to our department because of climacteric symptoms. The study group included 113 women with a diagnosis of depressive disorder according to the Hamilton rating scale for depression; the controls consisted of 219 women without depression. Serum 17β-estradiol concentrations were evaluated using radioimmunoassay, while polymorphisms in serotoninergic system genes: serotonin receptors 2A (HTR2A), 1B (HTR1B), and 2C (HTR2C); tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and 2 (TPH2), and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction.Results. We found that the 1460T allele ofMAO-Ac.1460C>T (SNP 1137070) appeared with a significantly higher frequency in depressed female patients than in the control group (P=0.011) and the combined c.1460CT + TT genotypes were associated with a higher risk of depression (P=0.0198). Patients with the 1460TT genotype had a significantly higher 17β-estradiol concentration than patients with the 1460CT genotype (P=0.0065) and 1460CC genotype (P=0.0018).Conclusions. We concluded that depression in postmenopausal women is closely related to the genetic contribution ofMAO-A.


Author(s):  
DINESH DHINGRA ◽  
SUDHA

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to investigate the antidepressant potential of trans-anethole in unstressed and stressed male mice. Methods: Swiss albino male mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress for 21 successive days. Simultaneously, trans-anethole (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, and 50 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) per se were administered for 21 successive days to separate groups of unstressed and stressed mice. The effect of drugs on depressive-like behavior of mice was tested by tail suspension test (TST) and sucrose preference test. Results: Trans-anethole (25 mg/kg) and fluoxetine significantly decreased the immobility period of unstressed and stressed mice in TST as compared to their respective control. These drugs significantly restored the reduced sucrose preference (%) in stressed mice. Trans-anethole did not show any significant effect on locomotor activity of mice. Antidepressant-like activity of trans-anethole (25 mg/kg) was found to be comparable to fluoxetine. Trans-anethole and fluoxetine significantly inhibited brain monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, decreased plasma nitrite, brain malondialdehyde, and increased brain reduced glutathione levels and catalase activity in unstressed and stressed mice. The drugs significantly reversed stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels. Conclusion: Trans-anethole produced significant antidepressant-like activity in unstressed and stressed mice, possibly through inhibition of brain MAO-A activity and alleviation of oxidative stress. Reversal of stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels might also be responsible for antidepressant-like activity of trans-anethole in stressed mice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 138-140
Author(s):  
T Javkar ◽  
M Paul ◽  
A Stanisz ◽  
P Forsythe

Abstract Background Enterochromaffin (EC) cells are one of the most abundant enteroendocrine cells in the intestinal epithelium, responsible for producing and storing the largest pool of serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the body. 5-HT has been shown to be important for modulating a large number of gastrointestinal reflexes in health and disease. 5-HT can stimulate extrinsic (vagal and spinal afferents) or intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) which are involved in motility, secretion and vasodilation within the intestines. Where EC cell localized enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TpH) isoform 1 is responsible for 5-HT synthesis, serotonin reuptake transporter (Sert) and monoamine oxidase A (Mao A) are responsible for termination by uptake and metabolism of 5-HT respectively. Our previous research has demonstrated the effects Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) on the firing frequency of spinal nerve fibres and motility. Increasing interest is being focused on potential health benefits of heat-inactivated microbes and purified bacterial components. However, the effect of these heat-killed bacteria on the intestinal epithelium cells, particularly on EC cells, is unknown. Aims Small intestinal organoids are shown to recapitulate in vivo characteristics of the small intestine epithelium. The present study aims to assess the suitability of intestinal organoids to study bacterial effects on the serotonergic system in the gut. Here we determined changes in the gene expression of key mediators in the serotonergic system [serotonin reuptake transporter (Sert), tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (Tph-1) and monoamine oxidase A (Mao A)] in response to live and heat-killed JB-1. Methods Male C57bl/6 mice aged 6–8 weeks were used for both ex vivo and in vivo experiments. Jejunal organoids were grown from whole crypts isolated using DTT-EDTA solution. Live and heat-killed JB-1 bacteria were used as treatments. Gene expression analysis was performed on jejunal organoids and jejunum tissue using qRT-PCR. Results JB-1 induced a significant increase in gene expression of Sert, Mao A and Tph-1. No significant difference was observed between the effects of live and heat-killed bacteria. In contrast the JB-1 increased expression of the peptide hormone CCK. Effects of JB-1 on gene expression in organoid culture were reflective of changes observed in in vivo experiments involving feeding of the bacteria. Conclusions Ex vivo organoid culture could be a useful tool in studying mechanisms underlying bacterial effects on serotonergic signalling. The observation that heat-killed bacteria produced comparable effects to the live organism suggests the possibility of isolating active 5-HT modulating components from these strains. Future research will focus on identifying such bacterial components and how their effects on gene expression influence serotonin availability Funding Agencies None


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 54-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smi Choi-Kwon ◽  
Mihye Ko ◽  
Sang-Eun Jun ◽  
Juhan Kim ◽  
Kyung-Hee Cho ◽  
...  

Background: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common sequela of stroke. Despite reports of serotonergic involvement in the etiology of PSF, the potential contribution of serotonergic genes in the development of PSF needs to be investigated. Methods: A total of 373 patients, who experienced ischemic stroke for PSF, were evaluated 3 months after the stroke. PSF was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale. The genomic DNA collected and stored in a -70°C freezer was genotyped for 6 polymorphisms in genes associated with serotonin synthesis (tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) A218C, TPH2 rs10879355, and TPH2 rs4641528), transport (the promoter region of the serotonin transporter protein), and catabolism (the 30-bp functional variable number tandem repeat) polymorphism in the promoter region of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Results: Among the 373 patients, 164 (44%) had PSF. All patients were ethnic Koreans. Of the 6 polymorphisms examined, only one marker, that is, low-activity MAO-A was associated with PSF (p < 0.05) in female patients. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that post-stroke depression (PSD; 95% CI 1.561-14.323, p = 0.006) and low MAO-A activity (95% CI 0.166-0.722, p = 0.005) were factors associated with PSF in female patients, whereas only PSD (95% CI 5.511-65.269, p = 0.000) was associated with PSF in male patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PSF may be associated with a genetic polymorphism involving MAO-A, at least in female stroke patients.


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