scholarly journals Learned Immobility Produces Enduring Impairment of the HPA Axis Reactivity in Mice without Replicating the Broad Spectrum of Depressive-Like Phenotype

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 937
Author(s):  
Sébastien Bullich ◽  
Sarah Delcourte ◽  
Nasser Haddjeri ◽  
Bruno P. Guiard

The forced swim stress test (FST) is widely used for screening pharmacological or non-pharmacological strategies with potential antidepressant activities. Recent data have suggested that repeated FST for five consecutive days (i.e., 5d-RFSS) could be used to generate a robust depressive-like phenotype in mice. However, the face, construct, and predictive validities of 5d-RFSS have been recently challenged. This study took advantage of recent findings showing that mice vulnerability to anxiety is enhanced when animals are stressed during the dark phase, to provide new insight into the relevance of this model. Our results showed a progressive increase in time of immobility in 5d-RFSS mice relative to control non-stressed animals (sham). Three weeks later, we noticed that 5d-RFSS mice injected with the vehicle compound (Veh) still exhibited a high level of immobility in the FST whereas this behavior was reversed by the antidepressant drug amitriptyline (AMI). However, 5d-RFSS/Veh and 5d-RFSS mice/AMI mice showed normal performances in the open field, the novelty suppressed feeding and the tail suspension tests. Despite this lack of generalized behavioral deficits, an impairment of different parameters characterizing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity was evidenced in 5d-RFSS mice/Veh but not in 5d-RFSS mice/AMI. Despite anomalies in the HPA axis, the activity of the central serotonergic system remained unaffected in 5d-RFSS mice relative to controls. From our results, it is suggested that learned immobility does not replicate the broad spectrum of depressive symptoms observed in other chronic models of depression such as the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model, the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model or chronic corticosterone (CORT) exposure but its influence on the HPA axis is remarkable. Further experiments are warranted to makes this model suitable for modelling depression and therefore refine its translational applicability.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1199-1199
Author(s):  
Jeong-Eun Choi ◽  
Yongsoon Park

Abstract Objectives The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that lifetime n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake improved depression through serotonergic pathway in post-menopausal rats with chronic mild stress (CMS) and maternal separation (MS). Methods Female rats were fed diets with 0% or 1 energy % n-3 PUFA during lifetime from embryonic day (ED) 0 to postnatal day (PND) 112, or 1% n-3 PUFA before weaning (ED 0-PND 20), or after weaning (PND 20–112). The rats in four diet group were allocated to brief separation from dam (non-MS group) or long-term separation (MS group) on PND 2–14, and then underwent CMS on PND 91–105 after ovariectomy. Thus, there were eight groups in total (n = 8/group). Results MS + CMS increased depressive behaviors, and modified hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, inflammation, serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, and related miRNAs as compared to CMS alone. N-3 PUFA decreased depressive behaviors by decreasing immobility while increasing swimming during forced swim test, and increasing sucrose preference in rats with MS + CMS and with CMS. N-3 PUFA decreased HPA axis activity by modifying expressions of corticotrophin releasing factor and glucocorticoid receptor, and levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone. N-3 PUFA also reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, and miRNA-218, and increased serotonergic neurotransmission, including expressions of cAMP response element binding protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and serotonin 1A receptor, and serotonin level, and expression of miRNA-155. In addition, lifetime supplementation of n-3 PUFA had greater effect than pre- or post-supplementation. N-3 PUFA had no effect on glutamatergic pathway including α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. Conclusions The present study suggested that lifetime n-3 PUFA improved depression in post-menopausal rats with MS + CMS through modulation of serotonergic pathway by decreasing HPA axis activity but not glutamatergic pathway. Funding Sources This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2018R1A2B6002486).


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenfang Tian ◽  
Dan Liu ◽  
Jin Chen ◽  
Wei Liao ◽  
Weibo Gong ◽  
...  

Chronic stress as one of the most significant risk factor can trigger overactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression as well as anxiety. Yet, the shared and unique neurobiological underpinnings underlying the pituitary abnormality in these two disorders have not been made clear. We previously have established depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible and insusceptible groups using a valid chronic mild stress (CMS) model. In this work, the possible protein expression changes in the rat pituitary of these three groups were continuously investigated through the use of the comparative quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. The pituitary-proteome analysis identified totally 197 differential proteins as a CMS response. These deregulated proteins were involved in diverse biological functions and significant pathways potentially connected with the three different behavioral phenotypes, likely serving as new investigative protein targets. Afterwards, parallel reaction monitoring-based independent analysis found out that expression alterations in Oxct1, Sec24c, Ppp1cb, Dock1, and Coq3; Lama1, Glb1, Gapdh, Sccpdh, and Renbp; Sephs1, Nup188, Spp1, Prodh1, and Srm were specifically linked to depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible and insusceptible groups, respectively, suggesting that the same CMS had different impacts on the pituitary protein regulatory system. Collectively, the current proteomics research elucidated an important molecular basis and furnished new valuable insights into neurochemical commonalities and specificities of the pituitary dysfunctional mechanisms in HPA axis underlying vulnerability and resistance to stress-induced anxiety or depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weibo Gong ◽  
Wei Liao ◽  
Chui Fang ◽  
Yanchen Liu ◽  
Hong Xie ◽  
...  

Chronic stress as a known risk factor leads to hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in both depression and anxiety. However, the stress-induced dysfunction of the HPA axis in these disorders especially the common and unique molecular dysregulations have not been well-explored. Previously, we utilized a chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm to segregate and gain depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible, and insusceptible groups. In this study, we continue to examine the possible protein expression alterations of the hypothalamus as the center of the HPA axis in these three groups by using a proteomic approach. Though isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative analysis, a total of 593 dysregulated proteins were identified. These were potentially associated with vulnerability and adaptability of CMS-caused depression or anxiety and therefore might become novel investigative protein targets. Further independent analysis using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) indicated that 5, 7, and 21 dysregulated proteins were specifically associated with depression-susceptible, anxiety-susceptible, and insusceptible groups, respectively, suggesting that the same CMS differently affected the regulation system of the rat hypothalamic proteome. In summary, the current proteomic research on the hypothalamus provided insights into the specific and common molecular basis for the HPA dysfunction mechanisms that underlie resiliency and vulnerability to stress-induced depression or anxiety.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Chen ◽  
Xiaokun Wang ◽  
Yunpeng Zhang ◽  
Hequan Zhong ◽  
Cuiting Wang ◽  
...  

Depression is one very common mental health disorder which can cause morbidity and mortality if not addressed. Recent studies have provided strong evidence that depression may be accompanied by immune activation, secondary inflammatory reaction, and hyperactivity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis. It is well-known that it takes at least 2 weeks for conventional antidepressants, especially SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) to produce effects. To better understand the mechanism of antidepressant effects on depression and subsequently further elucidate the pathogenesis of depression, we selected phytestrogen daidzein (DD) to observe its effects on the depression-like and anxiety-like behavior in two different rodent models of depression which were induced by learned helplessness and chronic mild stress (CMS) and then simultaneous evaluation of the depression-like behavior, the activity of HPA axis, and circulatory cytokines. Our results showed that daidzein attenuated depression-like behaviors through alleviating HPA axis hyperactivity, decreasing the levels of stress-related hormones, and partly rectifying some inflammatory cytokines imbalance in both the rodent models of depression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1271-1287
Author(s):  
Anna Haduch ◽  
Ewa Bromek ◽  
Marta Rysz ◽  
Renata Pukło ◽  
Mariusz Papp ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of our research was to determine the effects of chronic treatment with the atypical antidepressant agomelatine on the expression and activity of liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression, and to compare the results with those obtained for the first-generation antidepressant imipramine. Methods Male Wistar rats were subjected to CMS for 7 weeks. Imipramine (10 mg/kg ip/day) or agomelatine (40 mg/kg ip/day) was administered to nonstressed or stressed animals for 5 weeks (weeks 3–7 of CMS). The levels of cytochrome P450 mRNA, protein and activity were measured in the liver. Results Agomelatine and imipramine produced different broad-spectrum effects on cytochrome P450. Like imipramine, agomelatine increased the expression/activity of CYP2B and CYP2C6, and decreased the CYP2D activity. Unlike imipramine, agomelatine raised the expression/activity of CYP1A, CYP2A and reduced that of CYP2C11 and CYP3A. CMS modified the effects of antidepressants at transcriptional/posttranscriptional level; however, the enzyme activity in stressed rats remained similar to that in nonstressed animals. CMS alone decreased the CYP2B1 mRNA level and increased that of CYP2C11. Conclusion We conclude the following: (1) the effects of agomelatine and imipramine on cytochrome P450 are different and involve both central and peripheral regulatory mechanisms, which implicates the possibility of drug–drug interactions; (2) CMS influences the effects of antidepressants on cytochrome P450 expression, but does not change appreciably their effects on the enzyme activity. This suggests that the rate of antidepressant drug metabolism under CMS is similar to that under normal conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhel Dalanon ◽  
Sachiko Chikahisa ◽  
Tetsuya Shiuchi ◽  
Noriyuki Shimizu ◽  
Parimal Chavan ◽  
...  

AbstractEven though it has been well documented that stress can lead to the development of sleep disorders and the intensification of pain, their relationships have not been fully understood. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of predictable chronic mild stress (PCMS) on sleep–wake states and pain threshold, using the PCMS rearing conditions of mesh wire (MW) and water (W) for 21 days. Exposure to PCMS decreased the amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during the dark phase. Moreover, the chronicity of PCMS decreased slow-wave activity (SWA) during NREM sleep in the MW and W groups in both the light and dark phases. Mechanical and aversively hot thermal hyperalgesia were more intensified in the PCMS groups than the control. Higher plasma corticosterone levels were seen in mice subjected to PCMS, whereas TNF-α expression was found higher in the hypothalamus in the W and the trigeminal ganglion in the MW group. The W group had higher expression levels of IL-6 in the thalamus as well. The PCMS paradigm decreased SWA and may have intensified mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. The current study also suggests that rearing under PCMS may cause impaired sleep quality and heightened pain sensation to painful mechanical and aversively hot thermal stimuli.


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