title: Fluoxetine increases the activity of the ERK-CREB signal system and alleviates the depressive-like behavior in rats exposed to chronic forced swim stress.
abstract: Our previous research indicates that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-cyclic AMP-responsive-element-binding protein (CREB) signal system may be involved in the molecular mechanism of depression. The present study further investigated the effect of antidepressant fluoxetine on the ERK-CREB signal system and the depressive-like behaviors in rats. Fluoxetine was administrated to either naive rats or stressed rats for 21 days. The results showed that chronic forced swim stress induced depressive-like behaviors and decreased the levels of P-ERK2, P-CREB, ERK1/2 and CREB in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Fluoxetine alleviated the depressive-like behaviors and reversed the disruptions of the P-ERK2 and P-CREB in stressed rats. Fluoxetine also exerted mood-elevating effect and increased the levels of the P-ERK2 and P-CREB in naive rats. These results suggest that the ERK-CREB signal system may be the targets of the antidepressant action of fluoxetine and participate in the neuronal mechanism of depression.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Junfa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huanhuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weiwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Donglin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors