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Ren Z, Xiao L, Xie Y, Huang Z, Lin S, Si L, Wang G. Effects of testosterone dose on depression-like behavior among castrated adult male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107046. [PMID: 38626557 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Previous research has shown a decrease in serum testosterone levels in male patients with depression. In recent years, the results of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to improve depression have been mixed. Using the classic CUMS model, we induced depressive-like behaviors in rats and observed a decrease in their serum testosterone levels along with an increase in androgen receptor expression in the hippocampus. We then performed castration and sham surgery on male rats and found that testosterone deprivation led to the manifestation of depressive-like behavior that could be ameliorated by TRT. Through a repeated measures experiment consisting of five blocks over a period of 25 days, we discovered that the reduction in depressive-like behavior in testosterone-deprived rats began 22 days after drug administration (0.5 and 0.25 mg/rat). Furthermore, rats in 0.5mgT group showed the most significant improvements. Subsequently, this dose was used in CUMS rats and reduced the occurrence of depressive-like behaviors. Our study has demonstrated the complex interplay between depression and testosterone, as well as the intricate dose-response relationship between TRT and reduction in depression. Our research supports the use of TRT to alleviate depression, but dosage and duration of treatment are critical factors in determining efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyu Ren
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinping Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyuan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Lujia Si
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China; Taikang center for life and medical sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Mahdirejei HA, Peeri M, Azarbayjani MA, Fattahi Masrour F. Fluoxetine combined with swimming exercise synergistically reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior by normalizing the HPA axis and brain inflammation in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 232:173640. [PMID: 37741552 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Major depression disorder is a debilitating psychiatric disease affecting millions of people worldwide. This disorder is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in high-income countries. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine are first-line drugs for treating depression-related disorders, but not all patients respond well to these antidepressants. This study aimed to evaluate whether fluoxetine combined with aerobic exercise can affect lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, and brain inflammation in mice. Male mice were exposed to fluoxetine, swimming exercise, or a combination of both and finally treated with LPS. We measured depression-related symptoms such as anhedonia, behavioral despair, weight gain, and food intake. Hormones (corticosterone and testosterone) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10) were also measured in serum and brain (hippocampus and prefrontal cortex), respectively. The findings indicated that LPS induced anhedonia and behavioral despair and increased corticosterone, hippocampal IL-1β, TNF-α, and decreased testosterone and hippocampal IL-10 in mice. Fluoxetine and exercise separately reduced LPS-induced depressive-like behavior, while their combination synergistically reduced these symptoms in LPS-treated mice. We found fluoxetine alone increased food intake and body weight in LPS-treated mice. Fluoxetine and exercise combination reduced corticosterone, hippocampal TNF-α, and prefrontal IL-6 and TNF-α levels and increased testosterone and hippocampal and prefrontal IL-10 levels more effectively than fluoxetine alone in LPS-treated mice. This study suggests that swimming exercise combined with fluoxetine can affect depression-related behavior, HPA axis, and brain inflammation more effectively than when they are used separately.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maghsoud Peeri
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Liu B, Zhao L, Yue C, Qian M, Xie M. Changes in gonadal function at different stages of chronic restraint stress-induced depression animals. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112656. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Domonkos E, Hodosy J, Ostatníková D, Celec P. On the Role of Testosterone in Anxiety-Like Behavior Across Life in Experimental Rodents. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:441. [PMID: 30127767 PMCID: PMC6088149 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone affects brain functions and might explain some of the observed behavioral sex differences. Animal models may help in elucidating the possible involvement of sex hormones in these sex differences. The effects of testosterone have been intensively investigated, especially in anxiety models. Numerous experiments have brought inconsistent results with either anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects. Besides methodological variations, contradictory findings might be explained by the divergent metabolism of testosterone and its recognition by neurons during prenatal and postnatal development. Gonadectomy and subsequent supplementation have been used to study the role of sex hormones. However, the variable duration of hypogonadism might affect the outcomes and the effect of long-term androgen deficiency is understudied. Testosterone can be metabolized to dihydrotestosterone strengthening the androgen signaling, but also to estradiol converting the androgen to estrogen activity. Moreover, some metabolites of testosterone can modulate γ-aminobutyric acid and serotonergic neurotransmission. Here we review the currently available experimental data in experimental rodents on the effects of testosterone on anxiety during development. Based on the experimental results, females are generally less anxious than males from puberty to middle-age. The anxiety-like behavior of females and males is likely influenced by early organizational effects, but might be modified by activational effects of testosterone and its metabolites. The effects of sex hormones leading to anxiogenesis or anxiolysis depend on factors affecting hormonal status including age. The biological and several technical issues make the study of effects of testosterone on anxiety very complex and should be taken into account when interpreting experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emese Domonkos
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Július Hodosy
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Celec
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathophysiology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Ma D, Zhu Y, Li Y, Yang C, Zhang L, Li Y, Li L, Zhang L. Beneficial effects of cornel iridoid glycoside on behavioral impairment and senescence status in SAMP8 mice at different ages. Behav Brain Res 2016; 312:20-9. [PMID: 27283974 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cornel iridoid glycoside (CIG) on behavioral changes and senescent status in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice at different ages (6, 10, and 14 months old). The learning and memory ability, the motor function and the aging conditions of SAMP8 mice were evaluated after CIG treatment in this study. Results showed that intragastrical administration of CIG (100 and 200mg/kg) for two months obviously improved the impaired cognitive ability of SAMP8 mice at the age of 6 months and 10 months, respectively. The treatment with CIG significantly increased the motor function of SAMP8 mice at 10 months and 14 months of age, respectively. CIG also evidently decreased the high grading score of senescence and increased the low surviving rate of SAMP8 mice at the age of 14 months. In addition, CIG treatment inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus and striatum of SAMP8 mice at different ages. Together, these results indicate that CIG represent a potentially useful treatment for ameliorating the impaired cognitive ability, the motor dysfunction, aging conditions and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denglei Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yanqiu Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yanzheng Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Cuicui Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yali Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China.
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nerve System Drugs, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China.
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Celec P, Ostatníková D, Hodosy J. On the effects of testosterone on brain behavioral functions. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:12. [PMID: 25741229 PMCID: PMC4330791 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Testosterone influences the brain via organizational and activational effects. Numerous relevant studies on rodents and a few on humans focusing on specific behavioral and cognitive parameters have been published. The results are, unfortunately, controversial and puzzling. Dosing, timing, even the application route seem to considerably affect the outcomes. In addition, the methods used for the assessment of psychometric parameters are a bit less than ideal regarding their validity and reproducibility. Metabolism of testosterone contributes to the complexity of its actions. Reduction to dihydrotestosterone by 5-alpha reductase increases the androgen activity; conversion to estradiol by aromatase converts the androgen to estrogen activity. Recently, the non-genomic effects of testosterone on behavior bypassing the nuclear receptors have attracted the interest of researchers. This review tries to summarize the current understanding of the complexity of the effects of testosterone on brain with special focus on their role in the known sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia ; Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, Slovakia ; Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia ; Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia ; Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Július Hodosy
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia ; Center for Molecular Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, Slovakia ; Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
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Chen F, Zhou L, Bai Y, Zhou R, Chen L. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity accounts for anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats perinatally exposed to bisphenol A. J Biomed Res 2014; 29:250-8. [PMID: 26060449 PMCID: PMC4449493 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.29.20140058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating studies have proved that perinatal exposure to environmental dose causes long-term potentiation in anxiety/depression-related behaviors in rats. Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most consistent biological findings in anxiety- and depression-related disorders. The HPA axis is reported to be susceptible to developmental reprogramming. The present study focused on HPA reactivity in postnatal day (PND) 80 male rats exposed perinatally to environmental-dose BPA. When female breeders were orally administered 2 μg/(kg.day) BPA from gestation day 10 to lactation day 7, their offspring (PND 80 BPA-exposed rats) showed obvious anxiety/depression-like behaviors. Notably, significant increase in serum corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA were detected in BPA-exposed rats before or after the mild stressor. Additionally, the level of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the hippocampus, but not the hypothalamus, was decreased in BPA-exposed rats. The levels of hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA, neuronal nitric oxide synthase and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein were increased in BPA-exposed rats. In addition, the testosterone level was in BPA-exposed rats. The results indicate that reprogramming-induced hyperactivity of the HPA axis is an important link between perinatal BPA exposure and persistent potentiation in anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chen
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine
| | - Libin Zhou
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | | | - Rong Zhou
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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Oulis P, Masdrakis VG, Markianos M. Testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in female anxious and non-anxious major depression. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2014; 18:21-4. [PMID: 24047428 DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2013.845222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Major Depression with severe anxiety has been proposed as a distinct clinical variant of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This proposal invites the investigation of the differential biological correlates of the anxious versus non-anxious MDD. One such research area might be their possible differential associations with androgens. METHODS Plasma total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were assessed in adequately matched female inpatients with anxious MDD, non-anxious MDD and normal controls. RESULTS Androgen levels were significantly lower in both patient groups compared to those of controls. Moreover, they were significantly lower in anxious MDD patients compared to those of their non-anxious MDD counterparts. The limitations of this study were cross-sectional design of the study, the small sample size of the study sample and the outpatient status of the control group. In addition, free testosterone levels were not measured. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that female major depression is associated with lower androgen levels, a deficiency aggravated by the severity of their concomitant anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Oulis
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital , Athens , Greece
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Manhães AC, Paes-Branco D, Caparelli-Dáquer EM, Nunes F, Krahe TE, Abreu-Villaça Y, Filgueiras CC. Ontogenetic analysis of behavior in the tail suspension test: temporal differences in the emergence of within- and between-session habituation in Swiss mice. Dev Psychobiol 2013; 56:850-6. [PMID: 24037536 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Habituation is an important tool in the investigation of learning/memory throughout life. Despite that, few studies describe habituation from an ontogenetic perspective. Considering that, as soon as they are born, rodents can twist their bodies when lifted by their tails in an attempt to escape, this behavior should be well suited to study habituation behavior from birth to adulthood. Here, we implement a tail suspension test to study the ontogenetic development of habituation in Swiss mice. Our data indicate that a continuous within-session decrease in trunk movements can be observed from postnatal day (P) 10 onwards and that between-sessions habituation (from one day to another) can be observed from P16 onwards. Furthermore, we show that the adult pattern of within- and between-sessions reductions in activity is already present by the beginning of adolescence, at P28. Our results indicate that between-sessions habituation involves a more complex mechanism of memory and learning than within-session habituation, requiring a longer period of brain maturation before it can be displayed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Manhães
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Prof. Manoel de Abreu 444, 5 Andar, Vila Isabel Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Herrera-Pérez JJ, Martínez-Mota L, Chavira R, Fernández-Guasti A. Testosterone prevents but not reverses anhedonia in middle-aged males and lacks an effect on stress vulnerability in young adults. Horm Behav 2012; 61:623-30. [PMID: 22373497 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Revised: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Middle-aged male rats are more vulnerable than young adult ones to develop anhedonia when exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS). Clinical studies support the idea that in aged subjects the low testosterone (T) levels are related with their higher stress vulnerability and that this hormone possesses antidepressant-like actions. In this study we evaluated the role of gonadal hormones--mainly T--on the depressive-like behavior of middle-aged and young adult male rats submitted to CMS. In middle-aged rats we analyzed the effect of T restitution (at the levels of young adult animals) given 3 weeks before (experiment 1) or 3 weeks after (experiment 2) anhedonia development (indicated by a reduction in sucrose solution intake). T restitution before CMS effectively prevented anhedonia but failed to reverse it once installed. In young adult rats we studied if orchidectomy increased stress vulnerability and found that it failed to modify sucrose intake. These results indicate a stress-dependent differential effect of T in middle-aged rats an age differential role of gonadal hormones on the vulnerability to develop anhedonia. The results suggest that T is a resilience factor in middle-aged but not in young adult males.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Jaime Herrera-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología Conductual, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz, México City, Mexico
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Meng XH, Liu P, Wang H, Zhao XF, Xu ZM, Chen GH, Xu DX. Gender-specific impairments on cognitive and behavioral development in mice exposed to fenvalerate during puberty. Toxicol Lett 2011; 203:245-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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