Antidepressant-like activity of magnesium in the chronic mild stress model in rats: alterations in the NMDA receptor subunits.
Recent data suggests that the glutamatergic system is involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and that the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a potential target for antidepressant drugs. The magnesium ion blocks the ion channel of the NMDA receptor and prevents its excessive activation. Some preclinical and clinical evidence suggests also that magnesium may be useful in the treatment of depression. The present study investigated the effect of magnesium treatment (10, 15 and 20 mg/kg, given as magnesium hydroaspartate) in the chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression in rats. Moreover, the effect of CMS and magnesium (with an effective dose) on the level of the proteins related to the glutamatergic system (GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B and PSD-95) in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala were examined. A significant reduction in the sucrose intake induced by CMS was increased by magnesium treatment at a dose of 15 mg/kg, beginning from the third week of administration. Magnesium did not affect this behavioural parameter in the control animals. CMS significantly increased the level of the GluN1 subunit in the amygdala (by 174%) and GluN2A in the hippocampus (by 191%), both of which were significantly attenuated by magnesium treatment. Moreover, magnesium treatment in CMS animals increased the level of GluN2B (by 116%) and PSD-95 (by 150%) in the PFC. The present results for the first time demonstrate the antidepressant-like activity of magnesium in the animal model of anhedonia (CMS), thus indicating the possible involvement of the NMDA/glutamatergic receptors in this activity.
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Bartłomiej
B
Pochwat
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Bernadeta
B
Szewczyk
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Sowa-Kucma
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Agata
A
Siwek
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Urszula
U
Doboszewska
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Piekoszewski
Laboratory of Behavioural Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Piotr
P
Gruca
Laboratory of Behavioural Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Mariusz
M
Papp
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
Gabriel
G
Nowak
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008274:Magnesium