title: Effects of doxepin on brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, and AKT1 genes expression in rat hippocampus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that doxepin in addition to enhancement of noradrenaline and serotonin levels may have neuroprotective effects. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of doxepin on gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), and serine-threonine protein kinase AKT1 in rat hippocampus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male rats were divided randomly into three groups: Control, doxepin 1 mg/kg, and doxepin 5 mg/kg. Rats received an i.p injection of doxepin for 21 days. Then the hippocampi were dissected for the measurement of the expression of BDNF, TNF-α, MAPK14, and AKT1 genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed no significant effects of doxepin on gene expression of BDNF, TNF-α, MAPK14, and AKT1 genes in the hippocampus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results did not show significant effects of doxepin on the genes that affect the neuronal survival in intact animals. However, more studies need to be done, especially in models associated with neuronal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eidelkhani
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rafiee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hojjatallah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Parham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reisi
keywords: AKT1; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; doxepin; hippocampus; mitogen-activated protein kinase 14; tumor necrosis factor alpha