Chronic Trazodone and Citalopram Treatments Increase Trophic Factor and Circadian Rhythm Gene Expression in Rat Brain Regions Relevant for Antidepressant Efficacy.

ABSTRACT: Trazodone is an efficacious atypical antidepressant acting both as an SSRI and a 5HT2A and 5HT2C antagonist. Antagonism to H1-histaminergic and alpha1-adrenergic receptors is responsible for a sleep-promoting action. We studied long-term gene expression modulations induced by chronic trazodone to investigate the molecular underpinning of trazodone efficacy. Rats received acute or chronic treatment with trazodone or citalopram. mRNA expression of growth factor and circadian rhythm genes was evaluated by qPCR in the prefrontal cortex (PFCx), hippocampus, Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), amygdala, and hypothalamus. CREB levels and phosphorylation state were evaluated using Western blotting. BDNF levels were significantly increased in PFCx and hippocampus by trazodone and in the NAc and hypothalamus b

SUBMITTER: Carboni L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9698904 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature