title: Low-Level Laser Irradiation Improves Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice.
abstract: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading forms of psychiatric disorders, characterized by aversion to mobility, neurotransmitter deficiency, and energy metabolic decline. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been investigated in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and functional impairments. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of LLLT on depression-like behaviors and to explore the potential mechanism by detecting mitochondrial function following LLLT. Depression models in space restriction mice and Abelson helper integration site-1 (Ahi1) knockout (KO) mice were employed in this work. Our results revealed that LLLT effectively improved depression-like behaviors, in the two depression mice models, by decreasing immobility duration in behavioral despair tests. In addition, ATP biosynthesis and the level of mitochondrial complex IV expression and activity were significantly elevated in prefrontal cortex (PFC) following LLLT. Intriguingly, LLLT has no effects on ATP content and mitochondrial complex I-IV levels in other tested brain regions, hippocampus and hypothalamus. As a whole, these findings shed light on a novel strategy of transcranial LLLT on depression improvement by ameliorating neurotransmitter abnormalities and promoting mitochondrial function in PFC. The present work provides concrete groundwork for further investigation of LLLT for depression treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215004, China.|Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Guangji Hospital, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215000, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Donovan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Yujiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215004, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215004, China.|Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
authors.forename: Gaocai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215004, China.
authors.forename: Lingli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, Suzhou City, 215028, China.
authors.forename: Jizhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Guangji Hospital, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215000, China.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. qgzhang@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: Quanguang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215004, China. xingshunxu@suda.edu.cn.|Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, Jiangsu, 215123, China. xingshunxu@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xingshun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; C465818:Ahi1 protein, mouse; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Depression; Low-level laser therapy; Mitochondria; Neurotransmitter deficiency