Blockade of protein phosphatase 2B activity in the amygdala increases anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Organ transplant patients receive chronic administration of the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin-A (CsA) and demonstrate increased incidence of mood disorders. Significant calcineurin expression can be observed with immunohistochemistry in the amygdala, a brain area important for behaviors related to mood disorders and anxiety. It is therefore important to determine whether chronic blockade of calcineurin might contribute to symptoms of anxiety and depression in these patients.

Methods

Pharmacological CsA and viral-mediated gene transfer (adeno-associated viral expression of short hairpin RNA [AAV-shRNA]) approaches were used to inhibit calcineurin activity globally and selectively in the amygdala of the mouse brain to determine the role of calcineurin in behavio

SUBMITTER: Bahi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2787791 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature