Effects of Quetiapine on the Immobilization Stress-induced BDNF and CRF Expression in Rat Brain.
- Author:
Sung Woo PARK
1
;
Sun Kyung LEE
;
Young Kyung KIM
;
Sun Jung LEE
;
Myung Jin JOO
;
Chung Goo RHEE
;
Young Hoon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine and Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan, Korea. npkyh@chol.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Quetiapine;
Schizophrenia;
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor;
Corticotropin-releasing factor;
Antidepressant;
Forced swimming test;
Immobilization stress;
Hippocampus
- MeSH:
Animals;
Antipsychotic Agents;
Brain*;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*;
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone;
Dentate Gyrus;
Depression;
Hippocampus;
Humans;
Immobilization*;
In Situ Hybridization;
Models, Animal;
Neocortex;
Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus;
Physical Exertion;
Rabeprazole;
Rats*;
RNA, Messenger;
Schizophrenia;
Quetiapine Fumarate
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2006;17(3):291-301
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: In this study we examined the effects of quetiapine on the immobilization stress-induced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression in rat brain. We also assessed the antidepressant activity of quetiapine. METHOD: We used in situ hybridization to examine the effects of chronic administration of quetiapine in gene transcription. This study also examined the influence of quetiapine in an animal model of depression, the forced swimming test (FST). RESULTS: 1) Repeated immobilization stress (2 hr daily for 3 weeks) decreased mRNA levels of BDNF in the hippocampus (p<0.01), parietal cortex (p<0.01) and pyriform cortex (p<0.05). 2) Repeated immobilization stress increased mRNA levels of CRF in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN)(p<0.01). 3) Chronic quetiapine (10 mg/kg) treatment (daily for 3 weeks) alone significantly increased BDNF mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus when compared to controls under basal conditions (p<0.01), whereas no such effect was observed in the neocortex. 4) Chronic pretreatment of quetiapine also markedly increased the stress-induced decrease of BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus (p<0.01) and neocortex (p<0.01). 5) Moreover, the stress-induced elevation of CRF mRNA expression was blocked by chronic quetiapine pretreatment in PVN (p<0.01) although chronic quetiapine treatment alone did not significantly reduce CRF mRNA levels in comparison to controls under basal condition. 6) When rats received acutely quetiapine, quetiapine did reduce the immobility time at 10 mg/kg, as compared with the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION : These results suggest that quetiapine has not only potentially an antidepressant effect but also a neuroprotective action in schizophrenia and this effect may be related to its antipsychotic effect in patients with schizophrenia.
