Project description:Objective: To elucidate the potential effects of stressful factors for depression on the hippocampal, frontal cortex and pituitary gland genome-wide transcriptomes at the molecular level, we evaluated the transcriptomic profiles of depression rats under chronic restraint stress (CRS). Methods: Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into control, model, fluoxetine and acupuncture groups. Experimental period was 28 days. Open-field test, Sucrose preference and body weight were investigated respectively at the experiment before and after the experiment. The experiment having been finished, solexa sequencing technology (Illumina Nextseq 500/151nt) was applied to investigate and verify the altered hippocampal, frontal cortex and pituitary gland genome-wide transcriptome analysis in rats of all groups. Results: Based on the data from RNA-seq analysis, it revealed that compared the expression of genes in the control group with model group in the respective of three brain tissues, 101, 134, 148 differential expression genes were found in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and pituitary gland, respectively; compared the expression of genes in the fluoxetine group with model group in the respective of three brain tissues, 41, 46, 87 differential expression genes were found in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and pituitary gland, respectively; compared the expression of genes in the acupuncture group with model group in the respective of three brain tissues, 107, 89, 179 differential expression genes were found in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and pituitary gland, respectively. Furthermore, we used the GO (Gene ontology) analysis and KEGG (Kyo-To conservation of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis for these differentially expressed genes. We found that the results of these two analyses were consistent, both mainly related to monoamine neurotransmitters, inflammation and immune response in control group VS model group. It is noted that this phenomenon also appears in fluoxetine group compared with model group, acupuncture group VS model group. Importantly, the antidepressant effect of acupuncture was more extensive, which was more consistent with the pathogenesis of depression induced by CRS in rats. Conclusions: Our study represents the first detailed analysis of the hippocampal, frontal cortex and pituitary gland genome-wide transcriptomes in depression rats under CRS by RNA-seq technology. The results of this study revealed multiple DEGs and possible mechanisms specifying the function of hippocampal, frontal cortex and pituitary gland in depression rats induced by CRS. These results provide a basis for further investigation of the signaling mechanisms that affect central nervous system output related to stress-sensitive depressive disorder development. Overall design: Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into control, model, fluoxetine and acupuncture groups. The rat model of depression was established by subjecting to chronic restraint stress (6h/day) for 28 days. Rats in acupuncture group were acupunctured at GV20 (Baihui) and GV29 (Yintang) one hour before the CRS procedures every day. Rats in fluoxetine group were administered with fluoxetine (10mg/kg) by gavage one hour before the CRS procedures every day. Open-field test, Sucrose preference and body weight were investigated respectively at the experiment before and after the experiment. The experiment having been finished, the hippocampal, frontal cortex and pituitary gland were harvested, and their RNA profiles were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina Nextseq 500/151nt.
2017-09-24 | GSE86392 | GEO
Project description:Background:Fluoxetine (FLU) is the first-line and widely used medication for depression; however, FLU treatment is almost ineffective in 30%-40% of patients with depression. In addition, there are some problems in FLU treatment, such as delayed efficacy, large side effects, and poor tolerance. Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) is a classic and effective antidepressant Chinese herbal medicine that has been used in China for thousands of years. CSS or coadministration of CSS and FLU has become one of the most recommended methods in the treatment of depression in China. However, the specific pathways of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU for antidepressant are still unclear. Objective:This study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant effects of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU. Methods:The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model was used to simulate depression. 120 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the control group, CUMS group, low-dose CSS group, high-dose CSS group, FLU group, coadministration of low-dose CSS and FLU group, and coadministration of high-dose CSS and FLU group. The rats in different groups were given different interventions. Then, the depression-like behavior and cognitive function were evaluated by the sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT), and Y-maze test. What is more, the antidepressant mechanism of CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU were studied through BDNF mRNA, ERK mRNA, CREB mRNA, BDNF, p-ERK/ERK, and p-CREB/CREB levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results:Compared with the CUMS group, CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could alleviate the depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function in CUMS rats (p < 0.05); CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could increase the expression of BDNF, p-CREB/CREB, p-ERK/ERK, and BDNF mRNA, CREB mRNA, and ERK mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (p < 0.05); CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could increase the expression of BDNF, p-CREB/CREB, p-ERK/ERK, and BDNF mRNA, CREB mRNA, and ERK mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (p < 0.05); CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU could increase the expression of BDNF, p-CREB/CREB, p-ERK/ERK, and BDNF mRNA, CREB mRNA, and ERK mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (Discussion and Conclusion. Finally, we found that both CSS and coadministration of CSS and FLU play an antidepressant role, which may be due to the regulation of the BDNF/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Among them, the coadministration of CSS and FLU can enhance the antidepressant effect of CSS or FLU alone, and the underlying mechanism needs further investigation.
2020-01-01 | S-EPMC7060874 | BioStudies