title: Cysteamine attenuates the decreases in TrkB protein levels and the anxiety/depression-like behaviors in mice induced by corticosterone treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stress and glucocorticoid hormones, which are released into the circulation following stressful experiences, have been shown to contribute significantly to the manifestation of anxiety-like behaviors observed in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its receptor TrkB plays an important role in stress-mediated changes in structural as well as functional neuroplasticity. Studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms whereby TrkB signaling is regulated in chronic stress might provide valuable information for the development of new therapeutic strategies for several stress-related psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the potential of cysteamine, a neuroprotective compound to attenuate anxiety and depression like behaviors in a mouse model of anxiety/depression induced by chronic corticosterone exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cysteamine administration (150 mg/kg/day, through drinking water) for 21 days significantly ameliorated chronic corticosterone-induced decreases in TrkB protein levels in frontal cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, cysteamine treatment reversed the anxiety and depression like behavioral abnormalities induced by chronic corticosterone treatment. Finally, mice deficient in TrkB, showed a reduced response to cysteamine in behavioral tests, suggesting that TrkB signaling plays an important role in the antidepressant effects of cysteamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The animal studies described here highlight the potential use of cysteamine as a novel therapeutic strategy for glucocorticoid-related symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors: Ammar
authors: A
authors: Kutiyanawalla
authors: Alvin V
authors: AV
authors: Terry
authors: Anilkumar
authors: A
authors: Pillai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003543:Cysteamine; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D003345:Corticosterone