title: Vulnerability to depression: from brain neuroplasticity to identification of biomarkers.
abstract: A stressful event increases the risk of developing depression later in life, but the possible predisposing factors remain unknown. Our study aims to characterize latent vulnerability traits underlying the development of depressive disorders in adult animals. Four weeks after a priming stressful event, serum corticosterone concentration returned to control values in all animals, whereas the other biological parameters returned to basal level in only 58% of animals (called nonvulnerable). In contrast, 42% of animals displayed persistent decreased serum and hippocampus BDNF concentrations, reduced hippocampal volume and neurogenesis, CA3 dendritic retraction and decrease in spine density, as well as amygdala neuron hypertrophy, constituting latent vulnerability traits to depression. In this group, called vulnerable, a subsequent mild stress evoked a rise of serum corticosterone levels and a "depressive" phenotype, in contrast to nonvulnerable animals. Intracerebroventricular administration of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, a selective TrkB receptor agonist, dampened the development of the "depressive" phenotype. Our results thus characterize the presence of latent vulnerability traits that underlie the emergence of depression and identify the association of low BDNF with normal corticosterone serum concentrations as a predictive biomarker of vulnerability to depression.
authors: Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMRS 975, Pain Team, Site Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France.
authors: Aurélie
authors: A
authors: Blugeot
authors: Cyril
authors: C
authors: Rivat
authors: Elodie
authors: E
authors: Bouvier
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Molet
authors: Amandine
authors: A
authors: Mouchard
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Zeau
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Bernard
authors: Jean-Jacques
authors: JJ
authors: Benoliel
authors: Chrystel
authors: C
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007099:Imipramine; D003345:Corticosterone