Lithium treatment alters brain concentrations of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in a rat model of depression.
Nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are proteins involved in neuronal survival and plasticity of dopaminergic, cholinergic and serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system. Since decreased size and impaired function of some neuronal populations may be relevant in depression it has been hypothesized that these molecules may have a functional role in the pathophysiology as well as treatment of depression. Using an animal model of depression, the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats and their controls, the Flinders Resistant Line (FRL), we investigated the effects of chronic lithium treatment on brain NGF, BDNF and GDNF. Lithium was administered as food supplementation during 6 wk. NGF, BDNF and GDNF measurements were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lithium altered the brain concentrations of neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, occipital cortex and striatum. Moreover, the changes were different in the two rat strains. Our data support the notion that neurotrophic factors play a role in depression and in the mechanism of the action of lithium.
Angelucci
Francesco
F
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Division of Pharmacology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Aloe
Luigi
L
Jiménez-Vasquez
Patricia
P
Mathé
Aleksander A
AA
D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D008094:Lithium