title: Enhancement of BDNF concentration and restoration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis accompany reduced depressive-like behaviour in stressed ovariectomised rats treated with either Tualang honey or estrogen.
abstract: A possible interaction between glucocorticoids and estrogen-induced increases in brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in enhancing depressive-like behaviour has been documented. Here we evaluated the effects of Tualang honey, a phytoestrogen, and 17 β -estradiol (E2) on the depressive-like behaviour, stress hormones, and BDNF concentration in stressed ovariectomised (OVX) rats. The animals were divided into six groups: (i) nonstressed sham-operated control, (ii) stressed sham-operated control, (iii) nonstressed OVX, (iv) stressed OVX, (v) stressed OVX treated with E2 (20  μg daily, sc), and (vi) stressed OVX treated with Tualang honey (0.2 g/kg body weight daily, orally). Two months after surgery, the animals were subjected to social instability stress procedure followed by forced swimming test. Struggling time, immobility time, and swimming time were scored. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels, and the BDNF concentration were determined using commercially available ELISA kits. Stressed OVX rats displayed increased depressive-like behaviour with significantly increased serum ACTH and corticosterone levels, while the BDNF concentration was significantly decreased compared to other experimental groups. These changes were notably reversed by both E2 and Tualang honey. In conclusion, both Tualang honey and E2 mediate antidepressive-like effects in stressed OVX rats, possibly acting via restoration of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and enhancement of the BDNF concentration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Muscat P.O. Box 3720, Ruwi Code 112, Oman.
authors.forename: Badriya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Rahbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zahiruddin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9070-2078
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Asma'
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Asma Hayati
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004967:Estrogens; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone