Combination of electroconvulsive stimulation with ketamine or escitalopram protects the brain against inflammation and oxidative stress induced by maternal deprivation and is critical for associated behaviors in male and female rats

Hydroalcoholic Extract of Centella asiatica and Madecassic Acid Reverse Depressive-Like Behaviors, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Adult Rats Submitted to Stress in Early Life

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe disorder that causes enormous loss of quality of life, and among the factors underlying MDD is stress in maternal deprivation (MD). In addition, classic pharmacotherapy has presented severe adverse effects. Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) demonstrates a potential neuroprotective effect but has not yet been evaluated in MD models. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. asiatica extract and the active compound madecassic acid on possible depressive-like behavior, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus and serum of young rats submitted to MD in the first days of life. Rats (after the first day of birth) were separated from the mother for 3 h a day for 10 days. When adults, these animals were divided into groups and submitted to treatment for 14 days. After subjecting the animals to protocols of locomotor activity in the open field and behavioral despair in the forced swimming test, researchers then euthanized the animals. The hippocampus and serum were collected and analyzed for the inflammatory cytokines and oxidative markers. The C. asiatica extract and active compound reversed or reduced depressive-like behaviors, inflammation in the hippocampus, and oxidative stress in serum and hippocampus. These results suggest that C. asiatica and madecassic acid have potential antidepressant action, at least partially, through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profiles.

Investigating the Mechanism of Chufan Yishen Formula in Treating Depression through Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Objective: To investigate the antidepressant effect and potential mechanism of the Chufan Yishen Formula (CFYS) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. Methods: The active ingredients and their target genes of CFYS were identified through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and TCM-ID. We obtained the differentially expressed genes in patients with depression from the GEO database and screened out the genes intersecting with the target genes of CFYS to construct the PPI network. The key pathways were selected through STRING and KEGG. Then, molecular docking and experimental verification were performed. Results: A total of 113 effective components and 195 target genes were obtained. After intersecting the target genes with the differentially expressed genes in patients with depression, we obtained 37 differential target genes, among which HMOX1, VEGFA, etc., were the key genes. After enriching the differential target genes by KEGG, we found that the "chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species" pathway was the key pathway for the CFYS antidepressant effect. Besides, VEGFA might be a key marker for depression. Experimental verification found that CFYS could significantly improve the behavioral indicators of rats with depression models, including improving the antioxidant enzyme activity and increasing VEGFA levels. The results are consistent with the network pharmacology analysis. Conclusions: CFYS treatment for depression is a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway complex process, which may mainly exert an antidepressant effect by improving the neuron antioxidant stress response and regulating VEGFA levels.

Effect of high-intensity interval training on self-care and anxiety-like behaviors in naive rats

Self-care behavior covers individual's health, life and well-being to maintain the necessary activities. The aim of this study is to examine the self-care and possible anxiolytic effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT). Eight-week-old Wistar Albino male rats were divided into Control (n = 8), and Exercise (n = 8). Rat exercised for 38 min a day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks The animals were then subjected to open field test and splash test, and the behaviors were video recorded. Student t test and Shapiro-Wilk test were used as statistical tests. In the exercise group, spray-induced grooming behavior increased significantly in terms of duration and frequency (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the latency of grooming (p > 0.05). In the open-field test, the total distance traveled, which is a locomotor activity parameter, did not change between the groups. Anxiolytic-like behaviors such as total rearing behavior, unsupported rearing, central time, and central region entries increased remarkably in the exercise group vs. control (p < 0.0001). Freezing as an anxiogenic behavior decreased in the exercise group positively (p < 0.0001). Intermittent high-intensity exercise improved and increased self-care behaviors. Further, the present study shows that HIIT has beneficial effects on different aspects of behaviors such as exploratory behaviors, increasing anxiolytic behaviors, and reducing anxiogenic behavior. The present study is a preclinical study that will pave the way for new studies.

Maternal Substance Use and Early-Life Adversity: Inducing Drug Dependence in Offspring, Interactions, Mechanisms, and Treatments

The likelihood of substance dependency in offspring is increased in cases when there is a family history of drug or alcohol use. Mothering is limited by maternal addiction because of the separation. Maternal separation (MS) leads to the development of behavioural and neuropsychiatric issues in the future. Despite the importance of this issue, empirical investigations of the influences of maternal substance use and separation on substance use problems in offspring are limited, and studies that consider both effects are rare. This study aims to review a few studies on the mechanisms, treatments, genetics, epigenetics, molecular and psychological alterations, and neuroanatomical regions involved in the dependence of offspring who underwent maternal addiction and separation. The PubMed database was used. A total of 95 articles were found, including the most related ones in the review. The brain's lateral paragigantocellularis (LPGi), nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate-putamen (CPu), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus, can be affected by MS. Dopamine receptor subtype genes, alcohol biomarker minor allele, and preproenkephalin mRNA may be affected by alcohol or substance use disorders. After early-life adversity, histone acetylation in the hippocampus may be linked to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene epigenetics and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). The adverse early-life experiences differ in offspring›s genders and rewire the brain›s dopamine and endocannabinoid circuits, making offspring more susceptible to dependence. Related psychological factors rooted in early-life stress (ELS) and parental substance use disorder (SUD). Treatments include antidepressants, histone deacetylase inhibitors, lamotrigine, ketamine, choline, modafinil, methadone, dopamine, cannabinoid 1 receptor agonists/antagonists, vitamins, oxytocin, tetrahydrocannabinol, SR141716A, and dronabinol. Finally, the study emphasizes the need for multifaceted strategies to prevent these outcomes.

Sertraline associated with gold nanoparticles reduce cellular toxicity and induce sex-specific responses in behavior and neuroinflammation biomarkers in a mouse model of anxiety

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sertraline associated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in vitro cell viability and in vivo behavior and inflammatory biomarkers in a mouse model of anxiety. Sertraline associated with AuNPs were synthesized and characterized. For the in vitro study, NIH3T3 and HT-22 cells were treated with different doses of sertraline, AuNPs, and sertraline + AuNPs and their viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. For the in vivo study, pregnant Swiss mice were administered a single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the ninth day of gestation. The female and male offspring were divided into five treatment groups on PND 60 and administered chronic treatment for 28 days. The animals were subjected to behavioral testing and were subsequently euthanized. Their brains were collected and analyzed for inflammatory biomarkers. Sertraline associated with AuNPs exhibited significant changes in surface characteristics and increased diameters. Different doses of sertraline + AuNPs showed higher cell viability in NIH3T3 and HT-22 cells compared with sertraline alone. The offspring of LPS-treated dams exhibited anxiety-like behavior and neuroinflammatory biomarker changes during adulthood, which were ameliorated via sertraline + AuNPs treatment. The treatment response was sex-dependent and brain region-specific. These results suggest that AuNPs, which demonstrate potential to bind to other molecules, low toxicity, and reduced inflammation, can be synergistically used with sertraline to improve drug efficacy and safety by decreasing neuroinflammation and sertraline toxicity.

Effects of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid on depression-like behaviors induced by maternal separation in mice

Oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) are structural isomeric triterpenoids. Both triterpenoids have been reported to be able to improve depression. However, no studies have compared their effects in the same system. Whether OA or UA could ameliorate depression-like behaviors in maternal separation (MS)-induced depression-like model was investigated. MS model is a well-accepted mouse model that can reflect the phenotype and pathogenesis of depression. Depression is a mental illness caused by neuroinflammation or changes in neuroplasticity in certain brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Depression-like behaviors were measured using splash test or forced swimming test. In addition, anxiety-like behaviors were also measured using the open field test or elevated plus-maze test. MS-treated female mice showed greater depression-like behaviors than male mice, and that OA improved several depression-like behaviors, whereas UA only relieved anxiety-like behavior of MS-treated mice. Microglial activation, expression levels of TNF-α, and mRNA levels of IDO1 were increased in the hippocampi of MS-treated female mice. However, OA and UA treatments attenuated such increases. In addition, expression levels of synaptophysin and PSD-95 were decreased in the hippocampi of MS-treated female mice. These decreased expression levels of synaptophysin were reversed by both OA and UA treatments, although decreased PSD-95 expression levels were only reversed by OA treatment. Our findings suggest that MS cause depression-like behaviors through female-specific neuroinflammation, changes of tryptophan metabolism, and alterations of synaptic plasticity. Our findings also suggest that OA could reverse MS-induced depression-like behaviors more effectively than UA.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors regulate the interrelation between 5-HT and inflammation after myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a main cause of death all around the world. There is a close relationship between myocardial infarction (MI) and depression. MI patients with untreated depression had higher mortality than those without depression. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of escitalopram in treating a model under MI and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS).

METHODS

Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with sham surgery, or MI surgery, or UCMS, or escitalopram (ES) for a consecutive two weeks. And the mice were divided into Sham group, MI group, MI + UCMS group, MI + UCMS + ES group (n = 8 in each group). After treatment, the mice went through open field test for anxiety behavior, sucrose preference test for depressive behavior. After sacrificed, the blood, heart, hippocampus, and cortex were collected.

RESULTS

The escitalopram badly increased the area of cardiac fibrosis size. The sucrose preference test demonstrated that escitalopram treatment showed significant effect in improving depressive behaviors of mice under MI + UCMS. The potential mechanism involved the interrelation between 5-HT system and inflammation. MI significantly affected the level of cardiac SERT. Both UCMS and ES significantly affected the level of cortex TNF-α. UCMS significantly affected the level of cardiac IL-33. In the hippocampus tissue, TNF-α was positively correlated with SERT, and IL-10 was positively correlated with SERT. In the cortex tissue, IL-33 was positively correlated with 5-HT4R, and sST2 was positively correlated with 5-HT.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-week escitalopram treatment might worsen myocardial infarction. But escitalopram could benefit depressive behaviors, which may be related with the interrelationship between the 5-HT system and inflammatory factors in the brain.

Ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics: An update on the mechanisms and biosignatures underlying rapid-acting antidepressant treatment

The discovery of ketamine as a rapid-acting antidepressant spurred significant research to understand its underlying mechanisms of action and to identify other novel compounds that may act similarly. Serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) have shown initial promise in treating depression, though the challenge of conducting randomized controlled trials with SPs and the necessity of long-term clinical observation are important limitations. This review summarizes the similarities and differences between the psychoactive effects associated with both ketamine and SPs and the mechanisms of action of these compounds, with a focus on the monoaminergic, glutamatergic, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic, opioid, and inflammatory systems. Both molecular and neuroimaging aspects are considered. While their main mechanisms of action differ-SPs increase serotonergic signaling while ketamine is a glutamatergic modulator-evidence suggests that the downstream mechanisms of action of both ketamine and SPs include mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling and downstream GABAA receptor activity. The similarities in downstream mechanisms may explain why ketamine, and potentially SPs, exert rapid-acting antidepressant effects. However, research on SPs is still in its infancy compared to the ongoing research that has been conducted with ketamine. For both therapeutics, issues with regulation and proper controls should be addressed before more widespread implementation. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Ketamine and its Metabolites".

Evaluation of rosmarinic acid against myocardial infarction in maternally separated rats

Depression and coronary heart diseases are the common comorbid disorder affecting humans globally. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of rosmarinic acid (RA) against myocardial infarction (MI) in comorbid depression induced by maternal separation in rats. Maternal stress is one of the childhood crises that may be a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease in later part of life. As per protocol, 70-80% of pups were separated daily for 3 h between postnatal day 1 (PND1) and postnatal day 21 (PND21). Forced-swim test, sucrose preference test, and electrocardiography were performed during the experiment. Body weight was measured on PND0, PND35, and PND55. Orally rosmarinic acid (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was done from PND35 to PND55. On PND53 and PND54, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered to induce myocardial infarction. On PND55, blood was collected and animals sacrificed, and plasma corticosterone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cardiac biomarkers, interleukine-10, and anti-oxidant parameters were measured. Rosmarinic acid and fluoxetine ameliorated the maternal separation-induced increase in immobility period, anhedonia, body weight, ST elevation, corticosterone, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). At the same time, both drugs elevated the tissue levels of BDNF, IL-10, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase activity. This study provides the first experimental evidence that maternal stress is an independent risk factor of cardiac abnormalities in rats. Moreover, maternal stress synergistically increases the severity of cardiac abnormalities induced by isoproterenol. Interestingly, fluoxetine and rosmarinic acid effectively ameliorated behavioral anomalies and myocardial infarction in maternally separated rats. Schematic representation of possible molecular mechanism of action of rosmarinic acid against MS-induced myocardial infarction. RA, rosmarinic acid; MS, maternal separation; PND, postnatal days; ISO, isoproterenol; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; GSH, glutathione; SOD, superoxide dismutase; IL-10, interleukin-10; MI, myocardial infarction.

Effects of early life stress on brain cytokines: A systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies

Exposure to early life stress (ELS) may lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Alterations in the immune system and neuroinflammatory state induced by ELS exposure are considered risk factors for developing psychiatric disorders. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies investigating the short and long-term effects of ELS exposure on anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines in brain tissues. Our analysis shows that animals exposed to ELS present an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. On the other hand, no alteration was observed in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Meta-regression revealed that alterations were more prominent in the hippocampus of adult animals that were exposed to more extended periods of ELS. These inflammatory effects were not permanent since few alterations were identified in aged animals. Our findings suggest that ELS exposure alters pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and may act as a primer for a secondary challenge that may induce lifelong immune alterations. Moreover, the actual evidence is insufficient to comprehend the relationship between anti-inflammatory cytokines and ELS fully.