Structural changes of the frontal cortex in depressed mice are associated with decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2023.06.22
- Author:
Weiwei CUI
1
;
Liya GONG
1
;
Chunhui CHEN
2
;
Jjiayu TANG
3
;
Xin JIN
3
;
Zixin LI
3
;
Linin JING
4
;
Ge WEN
1
Author Information
1. Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
2. Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China.
3. First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
4. Operating Theater, TCM Integrated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510315, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
brain-derived neurotrophic factor;
chronic unpredictable mild stimulation;
voxel-based morphometry
- MeSH:
Animals;
Mice;
Blotting, Western;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor;
Cerebral Cortex;
Depression/physiopathology*;
Frontal Lobe/pathology*
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2023;43(6):1041-1046
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the changes in gray matter volume in depressive-like mice and explore the possible mechanism.
METHODS:Twenty-four 6-week-old C57 mice were randomized equally into control group and model group, and the mice in the model group were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) for 35 days. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to examine structural changes of the grey matter volume in depressive-like mice. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the grey matter of the mice was detected using Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.
RESULTS:Compared with the control mice, the mice with CUMS showed significantly decreased central walking distance in the open field test (P < 0.05) and increased immobile time in forced swimming test (P < 0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the volume of the frontal cortex was significantly decreased in CUMS mice (P < 0.001, when the mass level was greater than or equal to 10 756, the FDRc was corrected with P=0.05). Western blotting showed that the expression of mature BDNF in the frontal cortex was significantly decreased in CUMS mice (P < 0.05), and its expression began to decrease after the exposure to CUMS as shown by immunofluorescence staining. The volume of different clusters obtained by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was correlated with the expression level of mature BDNF detected by Western blotting (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:The decrease of frontal cortex volume after CUMS is related with the reduction of mature BDNF expression in the frontal cortex.
