A novel method for automatic pharmacological evaluation of sucrose preference change in depression mice

Psychopharmacological interaction of alcohol and posttraumatic stress disorder: Effective action of naringin

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalently co-occurring, important risk factors for a broad array of neuropsychiatric diseases. To date, how these two contrastive concomitant pairs increase the risk of neuropsychiatric states, notably exacerbating PTSD-related symptoms, remains unknown. Moreover, pharmacological interventions with agents that could reverse PTSD-AUD comorbidity, however, remained limited. Hence, we investigated the neuroprotective actions of naringin in mice comorbidly exposed to PTSD followed by repeated ethanol (EtOH)-induced AUD. Following a 7-day single-prolong-stress (SPS)-induced PTSD in mice, binge/heavy drinking, notably related to AUD, was induced in the PTSD mice with every-other-day ethanol (2 g/kg, p.o.) administration, followed by daily treatments with naringin (25 and 50 mg/kg) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg), from days 8-21. PTSD-AUD-related behavioral changes, alcohol preference, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis dysfunction-induced neurochemical alterations, oxidative/nitrergic stress, and inflammation were examined in the prefrontal-cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. PTSD-AUD mice showed aggravated anxiety, spatial-cognitive, social impairments and EtOH intake, which were abated by naringin, similar to fluoxetine. Our assays on the HPA-axis showed exacerbated increased corticosterone release and adrenal hypertrophy, accompanied by marked dopamine and serotonin increase, with depleted glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme in the three brain regions, which naringin, however, reversed, respectively. PTSD-AUD mice also showed increased TNF-α, IL-6, malondialdehyde and nitrite levels, with decreased antioxidant elements in the prefrontal-cortex, striatum, and hippocampus compared to SPS-EtOH-mice, mainly exacerbating catalase and glutathione decrease in the hippocampus relative SPS-mice. These findings suggest that AUD exacerbates PTSD pathologies in different brain regions, notably comprising neurochemical dysregulations, oxidative/nitrergic and cytokine-mediated inflammation, with HPA dysfunction, which were, however, revocable by naringin.

Alcohol-exacerbates post-traumatic stress psychiatric behavior and its neuropathological sequalae in experimental mice: preventive effects of morin

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are very prevalent and co-occurring. It is unclear how alcohol exacerbates PTSD predicaments owing to less characterized pathophysiological mechanisms. Also, studies on pharmacological agents that can effectively reverse PTSD-AUD comorbidity have, to date, been scarce. Hence, we designed a methodological approach to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacological outcomes of morin, a neuroprotective flavonoid in mice. After 7 days of PTSD following single-prolonged stress (SPS) induction in mice, the PTSD mice were exposed to intermittent binge ethanol administration using ethanol (2g/kg, oral gavage) every other day, alongside daily morin (50 and 100mg/kg) or fluoxetine (10mg/kg) from days 8-21. The consequences of PTSD-AUD behavior, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPA-axis) dysfunction, neurochemistry, oxidative/nitrergic stress, and inflammation were evaluated in the prefrontal-cortex (PFC), striatum, and hippocampus of mice. The exacerbated anxiety-like behavior, and spatial/non-spatial memory deficits, with general depressive phenotypes and social stress susceptibility by SPS-ethanol interaction, were alleviated by morin and fluoxetine, evidenced by reduced corticosterone release and adrenal hypertrophy. SPS-ethanol exacerbates dopamine, serotonin, and glutamic acid decarboxylase alterations, and monoamine oxidase-B and acetylcholinesterase hyperactivities in the striatum, PFC, and hippocampus, respectively, which were prevented by morin. Compared to SPS-ethanol aggravation, morin prevented TNF-α, and IL-6 release, malondialdehyde and nitrite levels, with improved antioxidant (glutathione, superoxide-dismutase, catalase) levels in the hippocampus, PFC, and striatum. Overall, these findings suggest that AUD exacerbated PTSD might be primarily connected, among other mechanisms, with aggravated HPA-axis dysfunction, upregulated neurochemical degradative enzymes, enhancement of oxidative/nitrergic stress and neuroinflammation, stereo-selectively in the mice brains, which morin abated via the preventive mechanisms.

Effects of simulated multi-sensory stimulation integration on physiological and psychological restoration in virtual urban green space environment

Virtual urban green environment images and audio stimuli had been proven to have restorative effects on subjects' physical and mental health. In this area, researchers predominantly focused on visual, auditory and olfactory aspects, while tactile and gustatory senses have been minimally explored. However, the optimal combination of sensory stimuli for promoting physical and mental recovery remains unclear. Therefore, a simulated sensory stimulation approach involving 240 participants was employed, with 30 individuals included in each of the eight experimental groups: the visual-auditory (VA), visual-auditory-olfactory (VAO), visual-auditory-tactile (VAT), visual-auditory-gustatory(VAG), visual-auditory-olfactory-tactile (VAOT), visual-auditory-olfactory-gustatory (VAOG), visual-auditory-tactile-gustatory (VATG), and visual-auditory-olfactory-tactile-gustatory (VAOTG) groups. This study aimed to explore the differences in participants' physiological and psychological health recovery after exposure to different combinations of simulated sensory stimuli in virtual UGSs. The results indicated that the following: (1) In terms of physiological recovery, the blood pressure of the 8 experimental groups decreased significantly after the experiment, indicating that the virtual urban green space environment has a certain recovery effect on physiological state. The combination of VAOTG stimuli in the multisensory group resulted in the best blood pressure recovery (p < 0.05). Tactile is an important sense to enhance the physiological recovery effect. Olfactory-tactile or tactile-gustatory stimuli interactions significantly enhance physiological recovery, emphasizing the importance of tactile stimulation in improving physiological recovery. (2) In terms of psychological recovery, the common trigger of olfactory-gustatory is the most key element to enhance psychological recovery through multi-sensory stimulation of virtual urban green space environment. VAOG stimulation had the best effect on psychological recovery (p < 0.05), followed by VAOTG stimulation (p < 0.05). Gustatory is an important sense to enhance the psychological recovery effect, and both the tactile-gustatory interaction and the olfactory-gustatory interaction significantly enhance the recovery effect. At the same time, the psychological recovery effect obtained by four or more sensory combinations was higher than that obtained by two or three sensory stimulation groups. This study confirms more possibilities for ways to restore physical and mental health through virtual natural environments. It expands the research on the benefits of virtual nature experience and provides theoretical support for the application of this method.

Uncovering the effect and mechanism of Jiawei Xiaoyao Wan in treating breast cancer complicated with depression based on network pharmacology and experimental analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a clinically common co-morbidity in breast cancer cases that brings negative outcomes on quality of life and potentially survival. Jiawei Xiaoyao Wan (JXW) is widely used in treating breast cancer and depressive disorder, but its potential pharmacological mechanisms remain elusive.

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the dual therapeutic effects and mechanisms of JXW acting on breast cancer complicated with depression (BCCD) by network pharmacology and in vivo experimental verification.

METHODS

The chemical constituents of JXW were characterized using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS). The targets related to constituents of JXW were predicted by the TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction databases, and targets of breast cancer and depression were screened by the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Gene Ontology annotation and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed with the DAVID database. Ultimately, a BCCD mouse model induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) was used to explore therapeutic effects and mechanisms of JXW against BCCD. The efficacy of JXW in the treatment of BCCD was evaluated based on behavioral tests, tumor volume and weight, and pathological examination. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms were explored by measuring the levels of neurotransmitter and inflammatory factors, as well as detecting the expression of genes or proteins associated with candidate targets and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway through RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Totals of 108 components were identified in JXW using LC-Q-TOF/MS. By network pharmacology analysis, 714 compound targets of JXW, 2114 breast cancer targets, 1122 depression targets, and 98 overlapping proteins were obtained. PPI network and KEGG analysis implied that TP53, ESR1, VEGFA, AKT1, IL6, TNF, EGFR and the JAK/STAT pathway might be the potential targets of JXW in treating BCCD. In vivo experiments indicated that JXW significantly ameliorated depressive symptoms and tumor progression in BCCD mice. Further mechanistic studies showed that JXW could reduce the levels of inflammatory factors, increase 5-HT level, and regulate mRNA expression levels of TP53, VEGFA, AKT1, IL6, TNF, and EGFR targets. Moreover, the expression levels of proteins related to the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in BCCD mice were effectively regulated by JXW.

CONCLUSION

JXW exerts dual therapeutic effects in a BCCD mouse via multiple targets. The underlying mechanisms might be associated with regulating the levels of neurotransmitter and inflammatory factors; more importantly, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway plays a significant role in this process.

Differentially expressed genes of esophageal tissue in male acute and chronic sleep deprivation mice

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with sleep disturbances. However, mechanisms underlying these interactions remain unclear. Male acute and chronic sleep deprivation (SD) mice were used for this study. Mice in the chronic SD group exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. We further performed high-throughput genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to screen for featured differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the esophageal tissue. The acute SD group, comprised 25 DEGs including 14 downregulated and 11 upregulated genes. Compared with the acute SD group, more DEGs were present in the chronic SD group, with a total of 169 DEGs, including 88 downregulated and 81 upregulated genes. Some DEGs that were closely related to GERD and associated esophageal diseases were significantly different in the chronic SD group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction verified the downregulation of Krt4, Krt13, Krt15 and Calml3 and upregulation of Baxl1 and Per3. Notably, these DEGs are involved in biological processes, which might be the pathways of the neuroregulatory mechanisms of DEGs expression.

Engeletin alleviates depressive-like behaviours by modulating microglial polarization via the LCN2/CXCL10 signalling pathway

Microglial polarization and associated inflammatory activity are the key mediators of depression pathogenesis. The natural Smilax glabra rhizomilax derivative engeletin has been reported to exhibit robust anti-inflammatory activity, but no studies to date have examined the mechanisms through which it can treat depressive symptoms. We showed that treatment for 21 days with engeletin significantly alleviated depressive-like behaviours in chronic stress social defeat stress (CSDS) model mice. T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) imaging revealed no significant differences between groups, but the bilateral prefrontal cortex of CSDS mice exhibited significant increases in apparent diffusion coefficient and T2 values relative to normal control mice, with a corresponding reduction in fractional anisotropy, while engeletin reversed all of these changes. CSDS resulted in higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-a production, enhanced microglial activation, and greater M1 polarization with a concomitant decrease in M2 polarization in the mPFC, whereas engeletin treatment effectively abrogated these CSDS-related pathological changes. Engeletin was further found to suppress the LCN2/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) signalling axis such that adeno-associated virus-induced LCN2 overexpression ablated the antidepressant effects of engeletin and reversed its beneficial effects on the M1/M2 polarization of microglia. In conclusion, engeletin can alleviate CSDS-induced depressive-like behaviours by regulating the LCN2/CXCL10 pathway and thereby altering the polarization of microglia. These data suggest that the antidepressant effects of engeletin are correlated with the polarization of microglia, highlighting a potential avenue for future design of antidepressant strategies that specifically target the microglia.

Sucrose preference test: A systematic review of protocols for the assessment of anhedonia in rodents

Anhedonia is described as a decreased ability to experience rewarding and enjoyable activities, a core symptom of major depressive disorder. The sucrose preference test (SPT) is a widely used and reliable behavioural test to assess anhedonia in rodents, based on a two-bottle choice paradigm. To date, different protocols are in use, inducing variability between researchers and hampering comparisons between studies. We performed a systematic review of the SPT protocols used in 2021 to identify the parameters in which they differ and their potential impact. We searched a total of four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct), from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021, and screened a total of 1066 articles. After screening by title and abstract, a total of 415 articles were included in this review. We extracted and analysed the different procedures used, the type of sweet solution and the habituation, deprivation, and testing protocols. The overall quality of the studies was considered very good, however, SPT protocols were extremely variable between studies with a total of 65 different habituation protocols and 104 combinations of food/water deprivation and preference testing duration. As the SPT is one of the most used tests to assess anhedonia in rodents, this work raises awareness of the great variability in SPT protocols being currently used. Furthermore, we call for standardization in the protocol used, and overall improvement of data reporting of methodologies and results, to increase the consistency between studies and allow a better comparison of results between different labs.

A comparative analysis of depressive-like behavior: Exploring sex-related differences and insights

Profiling the variability related to the estrous cycle is essential for assessing depressive-like behavior and screening drugs. This study compares circulating plasma corticosterone levels [CORT] and behavioral alterations in mice exposed to sucrose preference, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests (SPT, FST, and TST, respectively). While SPT exposure did not significantly alter [CORT], FST and TST showed notable changes. Mice in the TST exhibited increased movement and decreased immobility time compared to FST, suggesting a lower likelihood of depressive-like behavior in male mice. Notably, during the proestrus phase, female mice displayed the highest tendency for depressive-like behavior and elevated [CORT], but similar response to antidepressants (imipramine and fluoxetine). The inherent stress of the FST and TST tasks appears to influence [CORT] as well as depressant and antidepressant effects. These comparisons provide valuable insights for further behavioral phenotyping, model sensitivity assessment, and deepen our neurobiological understanding of depression in the context of drug screening.

Antidepressant effects of 70% ethanolic extract of Lonicerae japonicae flos and it contained chlorogenic acid via upregulation of BDNF-TrkB pathway in the hippocampus of mice

Lonicera japonica flos (LJF) is a common clinical herb with outstanding medicinal and nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant effects of LJF's active extract and compound chlorogenic acid (CGA) around brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)-tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) pathway. The results showed that LJF's extracts and CGA had significant antidepressant effects, and the antidepressant effects of different extracts of LJF were highly positively correlated with the content of CGA (forced swimming test, r = 0.998; tail suspension test, r = 0.934). Moreover, LJF-70% ethanolic extract and CGA improved chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive behavior, upregulated protein expression levels of BDNF and p-TrkB in the hippocampus, restored the damage of hippocampal neurons, and protected liver from damage. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time that LJF-70% ethanolic extract was the active extract of LJF in antidepressant and CGA was its active compound, and the antidepressant mechanisms mainly involved the upregulation of BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway in the hippocampus of mice.

Dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex contributes to BPA-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior in mice

Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known environmental endocrine disruptor, has been implicated in anxiety-like behavior. But the neural mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we found that mice exposed to 0.5 mg/kg/day BPA chronically from postnatal days (PND) 21 to PND 80 exhibited depression- and anxiety-like behavior. Further study showed that medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), was associated with BPA-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior, as evidenced by decreased c-fos expression in mPFC of BPA-exposed mice. Both the morphology and function of glutamatergic neurons (also called pyramidal neurons) in mPFC of mice were impaired following BPA exposure, characterized by reduced primary branches, weakened calcium signal, and decreased mEPSC frequency. Importantly, optogenetic activation of the pyramidal neurons in mPFC greatly reversed BPA-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior in mice. Furthermore, we reported that microglial activation in mPFC of mice may also have a role in BPA-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior. Taken together, the results indicated that mPFC is the brain region that is greatly damaged by BPA exposure and is associated with BPA-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior. The study thus provides new insights into BPA-induced neurotoxicity and behavioral changes.

Design of fast-onset antidepressant by dissociating SERT from nNOS in the DRN

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. We designed a fast-onset antidepressant that works by disrupting the interaction between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS) selectively increased the SERT-nNOS complex in the DRN in mice. Augmentation of SERT-nNOS interactions in the DRN caused a depression-like phenotype and accounted for the CMS-induced depressive behaviors. Disrupting the SERT-nNOS interaction produced a fast-onset antidepressant effect by enhancing serotonin signaling in forebrain circuits. We discovered a small-molecule compound, ZZL-7, that elicited an antidepressant effect 2 hours after treatment without undesirable side effects. This compound, or analogous reagents, may serve as a new, rapidly acting treatment for MDD.

Identification and Characterization of Elevated Expression of Transferrin and Its Receptor TfR1 in Mouse Models of Depression

Depression has become one of the severe mental disorders threatening global human health. In this study, we first used the proteomics approach to obtain the differentially expressed proteins in the liver between naive control and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) induced depressed mice. We have identified the upregulation of iron binding protein transferrin (TF) in the liver, the peripheral blood, and the brain in CSDS-exposed mice. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database from various mouse models of depression revealed the significantly upregulated transcripts of TF and its receptor TfR1 in multiple brain regions in depressed mice. We also used the recombinant TF administration via the tail vein to detect its permeability through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We demonstrated the permeability of peripheral TF into the brain through the BBB. Together, these results identified the elevated expression of TF and its receptor TfR1 in both peripheral liver and the central brain in CSDS-induced depressed mice, and peripheral administration of TF can be transported into the brain through the BBB. Therefore, our data provide a compelling information for understanding the potential role and mechanisms of the cross-talk between the liver and the brain in stress-induced depression.

Brain-wide mapping of c-Fos expression with fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography in a chronic sleep deprivation mouse model

Chronic sleep deprivation (SD) is a common problem for humans and can lead to many deleterious effects, including depression, anxiety, stroke, permanent cognitive deficits, stress, and other physiological diseases. It is vital to acquire information about the relevant neural activities at the whole-brain level to systematically explore the mechanisms of brain dysfunction related to SD. Expression of the immediate-early gene (IEG) Fos in the mouse brain has been widely used as a functional marker of brain activity in the field of neuroscience. However, most previous studies only analyzed the change of c-Fos in several specific brain regions using traditional research methods or in short-term SD model. Here, we applied c-Fos mapping through the fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST) technique and AAV-PHP.eB to comprehensive analysis the state of cumulative activation across the whole brain in a mouse model of chronic SD. The chronic rapid eyes movement (REM) SD model was induced by moving mice to a separate holding area filled with water. The experimental period lasted for 6 h per day. The results showed that after 14 days of SD, the mice displayed anxiety-like behaviors in open field test and elevated plus maze test, and displayed depression-like behaviors in tail suspension test and the sucrose preference test. The c-Fos + cells were detected in a maximum of 230 brain regions. SD-induced stress model evoked c-Fos expression in several brain regions compared to the control group. In particular, the isocortex-cerebral cortex plate area, including the retrosplenial, anterior cingulate, agranular insular, gustatory, and parasubiculum, appear to be the most sensitive regions after chronic REM SD.

Encore: Behavioural animal models of stress, depression and mood disorders

Animal studies over the past two decades have led to extensive advances in our understanding of pathogenesis of depressive and mood disorders. Among these, rodent behavioural models proved to be of highest informative value. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the most popular behavioural models with respect to physiological, circuit, and molecular biological correlates. Behavioural stress paradigms and behavioural tests are assessed in terms of outcomes, strengths, weaknesses, and translational value, especially in the domain of pharmacological studies.

Agomelatine: An astounding sui-generis antidepressant?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the foremost causes of disability and premature death worldwide. Although the available antidepressants are effective and well tolerated, they also have many limitations. Therapeutic advances in developing a new drug's ultimate relation between MDD and chronobiology, which targets the circadian rhythm, have led to a renewed focus on psychiatric disorders. In order to provide a critical analysis about antidepressant properties of agomelatine, a detailed PubMed (Medline), Scopus (Embase), Web of Science (Web of Knowledge), Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and PsycInfo search was performed using the following keywords: melatonin analog, agomelatine, safety, efficacy, adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, circadian rhythm, sleep disorders, neuroplasticity, MDD, bipolar disorder, anhedonia, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and mood disorders. Agomelatine is a unique melatonin analog with antidepressant properties and a large therapeutic index that improves clinical safety. It is a melatonin receptor agonist (MT1 and MT2) and a 5-HT2C receptor antagonist. The effects on melatonin receptors enable the resynchronization of irregular circadian rhythms with beneficial effects on sleep architectures. In this way, agomelatine is accredited for its unique mode of action, which helps to exert antidepressant effects and resynchronize the sleep-wake cycle. To sum up, an agomelatine has not only antidepressant properties but also has anxiolytic effects.

Sex-Specific Social Effects on Depression-Related Behavioral Phenotypes in Mice

Social interaction and empathy play critical roles in determining the emotional well-being of humans. Stress-related depression and anxiety can be exacerbated or mitigated depending on specific social conditions. Although rodents are well known to exhibit emotional contagion and consolation behavior, the effects of group housing on stress-induced phenotypes in both males and females are not well established. Here, we investigated how the presence of stressed or unstressed conspecifics within a cage impact depression-related phenotypes. We housed male and female C57BL/6J mice in same-sex groups and subjected them to either gentle handling (GH) or the daily administration of corticosterone (CORT) for 10 days. The GH and CORT treatment groups were divided into cages of unmixed (GH or CORT) and mixed (GH and CORT) treatments. Depression-related phenotypes were measured using the forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test (SPT). We found that mixed housing alters FST behavior in a sex-specific manner. Male mice given chronic corticosterone (CORT) that were housed in the same cage as gently handled animals (GH) exhibited increased immobility, whereas GH females housed with CORT females demonstrated the opposite effect. This study underscores the importance of social housing conditions when evaluating stress-induced behavioral phenotypes and suggests that mixed cages of GH and CORT animals yield the greatest difference between treatment groups. The latter finding has important implications for identifying therapeutics capable of rescuing stress-induced behavioral deficits in the FST.