Photoperiodic responses of depression-like behavior, the brain serotonergic system, and peripheral metabolism in laboratory mice.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by depression during specific seasons, generally winter. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying SAD remain elusive due to a limited number of animal models with high availability and validity. Here we show that laboratory C57BL/6J mice display photoperiodic changes in depression-like behavior and brain serotonin content. C57BL/6J mice maintained under short-day conditions, as compared to those under long-day conditions, demonstrated prolonged immobility times in the forced swimming test with lower brain levels of serotonin and its precursor l-tryptophan. Furthermore, photoperiod altered multiple parameters reflective of peripheral metabolism, including the ratio of plasma l-tryptophan to the sum of other large neutral amino acids that compete for transport across the blood-brain barrier, responses of circulating glucose and insulin to glucose load, sucrose intake under restricted feeding condition, and sensitivity of the brain serotonergic system to peripherally administered glucose. These data suggest that the mechanisms underlying SAD involve the brain-peripheral tissue network, and C57BL/6J mice can serve as a powerful tool for investigating the link between seasons and mood.
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Tsuyoshi
T
Otsuka
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Misato
M
Kawai
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Togo
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Ryosei
R
Goda
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Kawase
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Haruka
H
Matsuo
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Ayaka
A
Iwamoto
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Mao
M
Nagasawa
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Mitsuhiro
M
Furuse
Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. Electronic address: syasuo@brs.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Shinobu
S
Yasuo
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D023421:Models, Animal; D017440:Photoperiod; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D012701:Serotonin; D005947:Glucose
Amygdala; Carbohydrate craving; Glucose tolerance; Photoperiodism; Raphe; Seasonal affective disorder; Serotonin; Tryptophan; Winter depression