title: Repeated electroconvulsive stimuli have long-lasting effects on hippocampal BDNF and decrease immobility time in the rat forced swim test.
abstract: Electroconvulsive therapy is considered an effective treatment for severe depression. However, the mechanisms for its long-lasting antidepressant efficacy are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated changes of the immobility time in the forced swim test and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein after withdrawal from 14-day repeated electroconvulsive stimuli (ECS, 50 mA, 0.2 s) in rats. Immobility time in the forced swim test was markedly decreased 6 h after withdrawal following 14-day ECS treatment. Thereafter, prolongation of the withdrawal period gradually diminished the decreasing effect of immobility time, but significant effects persisted for up to 3 days after the withdrawal. Locomotor activity in the open-field test increased 6 h after withdrawal from the ECS treatment, and the enhanced effect persisted for at least 7 days. The BDNF protein level in the hippocampus was markedly increased 6 h after the withdrawal, and remained high for at least 7 days. These findings provide further evidence that repeated ECS has long-lasting effect on increase in BDNF and locomotor activity and decrease in immobility time in the forced swim test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Bingjin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suemaru
authors.forename: Ranji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor