Cerebellar Fastigial Nucleus Electrical Stimulation Alleviates Depressive-Like Behaviors in Post-Stroke Depression Rat Model and Potential Mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the molecular mechanism of post-stroke depression (PSD), and observe the therapeutic effects of cerebellar fastigial nucleus electrical stimulation (FNS) on the behaviors and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in a PSD rat model.


METHODS
Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (sham, stroke, post-stroke depress and FNS group). Sham group (n = 6) underwent sham operation. The other three groups (n = 6*3) underwent MCAO. Rats were examined twice a week in open filed test. Moreover, neuroprotective effect on cerebellar Purkinje cells and expression of cytokines in hippocampal tissue were examined.


RESULTS
The PSD group showed a significant weight loss, decreased consumption of sucrose water, reduced rearing and locomotor activities. The FNS significantly alleviates the body weight loss and sucrose preference, locomotor and rearing activities. The bilateral rCBF was also restored after FNS treatment. Moreover, FNS improved the neuroprotection via suppressing apoptosis of cerebellar Purkinje cells. And the inflammatory cytokines mRNA level in hippocampus was significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
FNS treatment alleviates depressive-like behaviors and rCBF in PSD rats model, which could be attributed to its ability to protect cerebellar Purkinje cells and decrease the mRNA level of inflammatory cytokines.
School of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Lei
L
Zhang
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Mingkui
M
Zhao
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Ru-Bo
RB
Sui
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Cerebellar FNS; Cerebellar Purkinje cells; Cytokines; PSD; rCBF