Di-(n-butyl)-phthalate-induced oxidative stress and depression-like behavior in mice with or without ovalbumin immunization.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between atopic allergy and depression and the role of DBP in the development of depression.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups: saline; ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized; saline+DBP (0.45 mg/kg•d); saline+DBP (45 mg/kg•d); DBP (0.45 mg/kg•d) OVA-immunized; DBP (45 mg/kg•d) OVA-immunized; saline+hydrocortisone (30 mg/kg•d); and hydrocortisone (30 mg/kg•d)-exposed OVA-immunized. Behavior (e.g. open-field, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests), viscera coefficients (brain and spleen), oxidative damage [e.g. reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)], as well as levels of IgE and IL-4, were then analyzed.


RESULTS
In the saline and OVA groups, the degree of depression symptoms in mice increased with increasing DBP concentration. Additionally, the OVA-immunity groups were associated with more serious depressive behavior compared with the same exposure concentration in the saline group. Oxidative damage was associated with a dose-dependent increase in DBP in the different groups. IL-4 and IgE levels were associated with low-dose DBP stimulation, which changed to high-dose inhibition with increasing DBP exposure, possibly due to spleen injury seen at high DBP concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of an atopic allergy has the potential to increase the risk of depression in mice, and it seems that DBP helps OVA to exert its effect in our present model. Moreover, the results of our study implicate a certain connection between brain oxidative stress and depression, which deserves a further exploration.
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Hao Xiao
HX
Zuo
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Jin Quan
JQ
Li
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University Centre for Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713AV, the Netherlands.
Bing
B
Han
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Chen Juan
CJ
Ke
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Xu Dong
XD
Liu
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Yu Chao
YC
Zhang
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Li
L
Li
Section of Environmental Biomedicine, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
Xu
X
Yang
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
Atopic allergy; Behavioral tests; Depression; Di (n-butyl) phthalate; Mice; Oxidative stress