title: Expression of genes encoding cytokines and corticotropin releasing factor are altered by citalopram in the hypothalamus of post-stroke depression rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a rat model of post-stroke depression (PSD), and examine expression of genes encoding corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the hypothalamus of PSD rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and chronic mild unpredictable stress (CUMS). Open field test and sucrose preference were used to examine depressive-like behaviors. Observed changes in gene expression levels in the hypothalamus of PSD rats were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCAO with CUMS resulted in reduction of sucrose preference and locomotor activity. Genes encoding TNF-α, IL-1β and CRF were highly expressed in the hypothalamus of rats subjected to MCAO and CUMS. The antidepressant citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, had inhibitory effects on the expression of the aforementioned genes. We observed a correlation between CRF and IL-1β mRNA levels in the citalopram-treated group of rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The etiology of PSD is associated with cytokine expression in the hypothalamus and with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Citalopram administration inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β transcripts in the hypothalamus, suggesting that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be appropriate for PSD therapy.
authors: Neurology Department of Nanlou Clinical Division, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fuxing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China. jessicass33@gmail.com; xiehengge@163.com.
authors: Shan-Shan
authors: SS
authors: Wang
authors: Academy of Chinese Military Medicine Science, Beijing 100850, China.
authors: Ya-Guang
authors: YG
authors: Wang
authors: Neurology Department of Nanlou Clinical Division, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fuxing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China.
authors: Hai-Ying
authors: HY
authors: Chen
authors: Neurology Department of Nanlou Clinical Division, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fuxing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China.
authors: Zhi-Ping
authors: ZP
authors: Wu
authors: Neurology Department of Nanlou Clinical Division, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Fuxing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China. jessicass33@gmail.com; xiehengge@163.com.
authors: Heng-Ge
authors: HG
authors: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016207:Cytokines; D015283:Citalopram; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone