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De Jager JE, Boesjes R, Roelandt GHJ, Koliaki I, Sommer IEC, Schoevers RA, Nuninga JO. Shared effects of electroconvulsive shocks and ketamine on neuroplasticity: A systematic review of animal models of depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105796. [PMID: 38981574 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) and ketamine are antidepressant treatments with a relatively fast onset of therapeutic effects compared to conventional medication and psychotherapy. While the exact neurobiological mechanisms underlying the antidepressant response of ECS and ketamine are unknown, both interventions are associated with neuroplasticity. Restoration of neuroplasticity may be a shared mechanism underlying the antidepressant efficacy of these interventions. In this systematic review, literature of animal models of depression is summarized to examine the possible role of neuroplasticity in ECS and ketamine on a molecular, neuronal, synaptic and functional level, and specifically to what extent these mechanisms are shared between both interventions. The results highlight that hippocampal neurogenesis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are consistently increased after ECS and ketamine. Moreover, both interventions positively affect glutamatergic neurotransmission, astrocyte and neuronal morphology, synaptic density, vasculature and functional plasticity. However, a small number of studies investigated these processes after ECS. Understanding the shared fundamental mechanisms of fast-acting antidepressants can contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with severe depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesca E De Jager
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Rutger Boesjes
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs H J Roelandt
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ilektra Koliaki
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Iris E C Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert A Schoevers
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper O Nuninga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Center, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Centre Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, the Netherlands
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2
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Kojic M, Saelens J, Kadriu B, Zarate CA, Kraus C. Ketamine for Depression: Advances in Clinical Treatment, Rapid Antidepressant Mechanisms of Action, and a Contrast with Serotonergic Psychedelics. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 56:141-167. [PMID: 35312993 PMCID: PMC10500612 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The approval of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression has created a model for a novel class of rapid-acting glutamatergic antidepressants. Recent research into other novel rapid-acting antidepressants - most notably serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) - has also proven promising. Presently, the mechanisms of action of these substances are under investigation to improve these novel treatments, which also exhibit considerable side effects such as dissociation. This chapter lays out the historical development of ketamine as an antidepressant, outlines its efficacy and safety profile, reviews the evidence for ketamine's molecular mechanism of action, and compares it to the proposed mechanism of SPs. The evidence suggests that although ketamine and SPs act on distinct primary targets, both may lead to rapid restoration of synaptic deficits and downstream network reconfiguration. In both classes of drugs, a glutamate surge activates α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) throughput and increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Taken together, these novel antidepressant mechanisms may serve as a framework to explain the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine and may be crucial for developing new rapid-acting antidepressants with an improved side effect profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kojic
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johan Saelens
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bashkim Kadriu
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Kang MJY, Hawken E, Vazquez GH. The Mechanisms Behind Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine: A Systematic Review With a Focus on Molecular Neuroplasticity. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:860882. [PMID: 35546951 PMCID: PMC9082546 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.860882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of action underlying ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in patients with depression, both suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), including treatment resistant depression (TRD), remains unclear. Of the many speculated routes that ketamine may act through, restoring deficits in neuroplasticity may be the most parsimonious mechanism in both human patients and preclinical models of depression. Here, we conducted a literature search using PubMed for any reports of ketamine inducing neuroplasticity relevant to depression, to identify cellular and molecular events, relevant to neuroplasticity, immediately observed with rapid mood improvements in humans or antidepressant-like effects in animals. After screening reports using our inclusion/exclusion criteria, 139 publications with data from cell cultures, animal models, and patients with BD or MDD were included (registered on PROSPERO, ID: CRD42019123346). We found accumulating evidence to support that ketamine induces an increase in molecules involved in modulating neuroplasticity, and that these changes are paired with rapid antidepressant effects. Molecules or complexes of high interest include glutamate, AMPA receptors (AMPAR), mTOR, BDNF/TrkB, VGF, eEF2K, p70S6K, GSK-3, IGF2, Erk, and microRNAs. In summary, these studies suggest a robust relationship between improvements in mood, and ketamine-induced increases in molecular neuroplasticity, particularly regarding intracellular signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody J Y Kang
- Center of Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Hawken
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Providence Care Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Gustavo Hector Vazquez
- Center of Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Providence Care Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada
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Kadriu B, Greenwald M, Henter ID, Gilbert JR, Kraus C, Park LT, Zarate CA. Ketamine and Serotonergic Psychedelics: Common Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Rapid-Acting Antidepressants. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:8-21. [PMID: 33252694 PMCID: PMC7816692 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The glutamatergic modulator ketamine has created a blueprint for studying novel pharmaceuticals in the field. Recent studies suggest that "classic" serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) may also have antidepressant efficacy. Both ketamine and SPs appear to produce rapid, sustained antidepressant effects after a transient psychoactive period. METHODS This review summarizes areas of overlap between SP and ketamine research and considers the possibility of a common, downstream mechanism of action. The therapeutic relevance of the psychoactive state, overlapping cellular and molecular effects, and overlapping electrophysiological and neuroimaging observations are all reviewed. RESULTS Taken together, the evidence suggests a potentially shared mechanism wherein both ketamine and SPs may engender rapid neuroplastic effects in a glutamatergic activity-dependent manner. It is postulated that, though distinct, both ketamine and SPs appear to produce acute alterations in cortical network activity that may initially produce psychoactive effects and later produce milder, sustained changes in network efficiency associated with therapeutic response. However, despite some commonalities between the psychoactive component of these pharmacologically distinct therapies-such as engagement of the downstream glutamatergic pathway-the connection between psychoactive impact and antidepressant efficacy remains unclear and requires more rigorous research. CONCLUSIONS Rapid-acting antidepressants currently under investigation may share some downstream pharmacological effects, suggesting that their antidepressant effects may come about via related mechanisms. Given the prototypic nature of ketamine research and recent progress in this area, this platform could be used to investigate entirely new classes of antidepressants with rapid and robust actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashkim Kadriu
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maximillian Greenwald
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ioline D Henter
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jessica R Gilbert
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lawrence T Park
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Cholewinski T, Pereira D, Moerland M, Jacobs GE. MTORC1 signaling as a biomarker in major depressive disorder and its pharmacological modulation by novel rapid-acting antidepressants. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2021; 11:20451253211036814. [PMID: 34733478 PMCID: PMC8558816 DOI: 10.1177/20451253211036814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial psychiatric disorder with obscure pathophysiology. A biomarker-based approach in combination with standardized interview-based instruments is needed to identify MDD subtypes and novel therapeutic targets. Recent findings support the impairment of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in MDD. No well-established biomarkers of mTORC1 disease- and treatment-modulated activity are currently available for use in early phase antidepressant drug (AD) development. This review aims to summarize biomarkers of mTORC1 activity in MDD and to suggest how these could be implemented in future early clinical trials on mTORC1 modulating ADs. Therefore, a PubMed-based narrative literature review of the mTORC1 involvement in MDD was performed. We have summarized recent pre-clinical and clinical findings linking the MDD to the impaired activity of several key biomarkers related to mTORC1. Also, cases of restoration of these impairments by classical ADs and novel fast-acting investigational ADs are summarized. The presented biomarkers may be used to monitor pharmacological effects by novel rapid-acting mTORC1-targeting ADs. Based on findings in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we argue that those may serve as an ex vivo model for evaluation of mTORC1 activity and propose the use of the summarized biomarkers for this purpose. This could both facilitate the selection of a pharmacodynamically active dose and guide future early clinical efficacy studies in MDD. In conclusion, this review provides a blueprint for the rational development of rapid-acting mTORC1-targeting ADs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana Pereira
- Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gabriel E Jacobs
- Centre for Human Drug Research, Zernikedreef 8, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
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Cuesta S, Funes A, Pacchioni AM. Social Isolation in Male Rats During Adolescence Inhibits the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in the Prefrontal Cortex and Enhances Anxiety and Cocaine-Induced Plasticity in Adulthood. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:611-624. [PMID: 32078732 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00466-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In adult animals, it is well established that stress has a proactive effect on psychostimulant responses. However, whether only a short period of stress during adolescence can also affect cocaine responses later in life and what mechanisms are involved are unknown. Here, we showed that 5 days of social isolation during rat adolescence had a long-term impact on anxiety-like behaviors, cocaine-induced conditioned place preference, and the expression of sensitization during adulthood. At the molecular level, social isolation decreased the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Furthermore, after the expression of cocaine sensitization, isolated rats showed an increase in this pathway in the nucleus accumbens. Together, these findings suggest that, adolescent social isolation by altering the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the developing PFC might increase the cocaine responses during adulthood, introducing this pathway as a novel neuroadaptation in the cortical-accumbens connection that may mediate a stress-induced increase in vulnerability to drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cuesta
- Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina.,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Alejandrina Funes
- Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Alejandra M Pacchioni
- Área Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos y del Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. .,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina.
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Esketamine and rapastinel, but not imipramine, have antidepressant-like effect in a treatment-resistant animal model of depression. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2019; 31:258-265. [PMID: 31230597 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2019.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Treatment-resistance to antidepressants is a major problem in the pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder (MDD). Unfortunately, only a few animal models are suitable for studying treatment-resistant depression, among them repeated treatment with Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) appears to be useful to mimic treatment-resistance to monoaminergic antidepressants. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of s-ketamine and rapastinel (formerly GLYX13), modulators of the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in ACTH-treated animals. METHODS Naïve male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to repeated subcutaneous injections with ACTH (100 µg/0.1 ml/rat/day) for 14 days and drug treatment on the test day (open field and forced swim test) with imipramine, s-ketamine or rapastinel. In addition, assessment of plasma levels of corticosterone and ACTH was carried out. RESULTS We found that rats repeatedly treated with ACTH for 14 days responded to single injections with s-ketamine (15 mg/kg) and rapastinel (10 mg/kg), but failed to respond to imipramine (15 mg/kg). In the plasma, the levels of corticosterone and ACTH were increased after 14 days of daily treatment with ACTH, independently of the treatment. CONCLUSION The present data confirm development of a resistance to treatment following chronic ACTH administration. In addition, the study confirms the possible effectiveness of s-ketamine and rapastinel as treatment options in treatment-resistant depression. Moreover, it highlights the importance of the glutamatergic system in the neurobiology of depression. Further studies are necessary to evaluate how repeated treatment with ACTH leads to a depressed condition resistant to monoaminergic antidepressants.
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Nitric oxide signalling and antidepressant action revisited. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 377:45-58. [PMID: 30649612 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-02987-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies about the pathogenesis of mood disorders have consistently shown that multiple factors, including genetic and environmental, play a crucial role on their development and neurobiology. Multiple pathological theories have been proposed, of which several ultimately affects or is a consequence of dysfunction in brain neuroplasticity and homeostatic mechanisms. However, current clinical available pharmacological intervention, which is predominantly monoamine-based, suffers from a partial and lacking response even after weeks of continuous treatment. These issues raise the need for better understanding of aetiologies and brain abnormalities in depression, as well as developing novel treatment strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous unconventional neurotransmitter, which regulates and governs several important physiological functions in the central nervous system, including processes, which can be associated with the development of mood disorders. This review will present general aspects of the NO system in depression, highlighting potential targets that may be utilized and further explored as novel therapeutic targets in the future pharmacotherapy of depression. In particular, the review will link the importance of neuroplasticity mechanisms governed by NO to a possible molecular basis for the antidepressant effects.
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Chen F, Danladi J, Ardalan M, Elfving B, Müller HK, Wegener G, Sanchez C, Nyengaard JR. A Critical Role of Mitochondria in BDNF-Associated Synaptic Plasticity After One-Week Vortioxetine Treatment. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 21. [PMID: 29514282 PMCID: PMC6007239 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies have indicated that antidepressant effect of vortioxetine involves increased synaptic plasticity and promotion of spine maturation. Mitochondria dysfunction may contribute to the pathophysiological basis of major depressive disorder. Taking into consideration that vortioxetine increases spine number and dendritic branching in hippocampus CA1 faster than fluoxetine, we hypothesize that new spines induced by vortioxetine can rapidly form functional synapses by mitochondrial support, accompanied by increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling. METHODS Rats were treated for 1 week with vortioxetine or fluoxetine at pharmacologically relevant doses. Number of synapses and mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 were quantified by electron microscopy. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein levels were visualized with immunohistochemistry. Gene and protein expression of synapse and mitochondria-related markers were investigated with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. RESULTS Vortioxetine increased number of synapses and mitochondria significantly, whereas fluoxetine had no effect after 1-week dosing. BDNF levels in hippocampus DG and CA1 were significantly higher after vortioxetine treatment. Gene expression levels of Rac1 after vortioxetine treatment were significantly increased. There was a tendency towards increased gene expression levels of Drp1 and protein levels of Rac1. However, both gene and protein levels of c-Fos were significantly decreased. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between BDNF levels and mitochondria and synapse numbers. CONCLUSION Our results imply that mitochondria play a critical role in synaptic plasticity accompanied by increased BDNF levels. Rapid changes in BDNF levels and synaptic/mitochondria plasticity of hippocampus following vortioxetine compared with fluoxetine may be ascribed to vortioxetine's modulation of serotonin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Chen
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
- Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Correspondence: Fenghua Chen, Department of Clinical Medicine - Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark ()
| | - Jibrin Danladi
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine - Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Betina Elfving
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Heidi K Müller
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- AUGUST Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Connie Sanchez
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
- Alkermes, Biotechnology, Waltham, MA
| | - Jens R Nyengaard
- Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centre for Stochastic Geometry and Advanced Bioimaging, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Chen F, Ardalan M, Elfving B, Wegener G, Madsen TM, Nyengaard JR. Mitochondria Are Critical for BDNF-Mediated Synaptic and Vascular Plasticity of Hippocampus following Repeated Electroconvulsive Seizures. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 21:291-304. [PMID: 29228215 PMCID: PMC5838811 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyx115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive therapy is a fast-acting and efficient treatment of depression used in the clinic. The underlying mechanism of its therapeutic effect is still unclear. However, recovery of synaptic connections and synaptic remodeling is thought to play a critical role for the clinical efficacy obtained from a rapid antidepressant response. Here, we investigated the relationship between synaptic changes and concomitant nonneuronal changes in microvasculature and mitochondria and its relationship to brain-derived neurotrophic factor level changes after repeated electroconvulsive seizures, an animal model of electroconvulsive therapy. METHODS Electroconvulsive seizures or sham treatment was given daily for 10 days to rats displaying a genetically driven phenotype modelling clinical depression: the Flinders Sensitive and Resistant Line rats. Stereological principles were employed to quantify numbers of synapses and mitochondria, and the length of microvessels in the hippocampus. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein levels were quantified with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS In untreated controls, a lower number of synapses and mitochondria was accompanied by shorter microvessels of the hippocampus in "depressive" phenotype (Flinders Sensitive Line) compared with the "nondepressed" phenotype (Flinders Resistant Line). Electroconvulsive seizure administration significantly increased the number of synapses and mitochondria, and length of microvessels both in Flinders Sensitive Line-electroconvulsive seizures and Flinders Resistant Line-electroconvulsive seizures rats. In addition, the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein was significantly increased in Flinders Sensitive Line and Flinders Resistant Line rats after electroconvulsive seizures. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and mitochondria/synapses. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that rapid and efficient therapeutic effect of electroconvulsive seizures may be related to synaptic plasticity, accompanied by brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein level elevation and mitochondrial and vascular support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Chen
- Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark,Correspondence: Fenghua Chen, MD, PhD, Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Skovagervej 2, building 14K, 0.15, 8240 Risskov, Denmark ()
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark,Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa,Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Betina Elfving
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- AUGUST Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | | | - Jens R Nyengaard
- Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark,Centre for Stochastic Geometry and Advanced Bioimaging, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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