[Effect of chronic stress on PKA and P-CREB expression in hippocampus of rats and the antagonism of antidepressors].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of chronic unpredicted sequence of mild stress on the expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A(PKA) and phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (P-CREB) in hippocampus of rats and the antagonism of antidepressors (fluoxetine).


METHODS
Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly and equally allocated to 3 groups: A normal control group, a model group, and a fluoxetine group. All rats except the control group were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressors. The different distribution and expression of PKA and P-CREB in the hippocampus of rats in different groups were investigated with immunohistochemistry and Westernblot technique.


RESULTS
The positive PKA and P-CREB cells in the hippocampus of normal controls were the pyramidal cells and the granule cells. The PKA and P-CREB protein expression levels in the hippocampus of model rats were significantly lower than those of the normal controls (P<0.05). The PKA and P-CREB protein expression levels in the hippocampus of the fluoxetine group were significantly higher than those of the model group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic unpredicted mild stress can affect the PKA and P-CREB expression in hippocampus of rats and fluoxetine has antagonism against it.
Wang
Zhe
Z
Department of Combined Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China. ericwangzhe@yahoo.com.cn
Hu
Sui-yu
SY
Lei
De-liang
DL
Song
Wei-xi
WX
D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases