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Ismail TR, Yap CG, Naidu R, Shri L, Pamidi N. Environmental enrichment and the combined interventions of EE and metformin enhance hippocampal neuron survival and hippocampal-dependent memory in type 2 diabetic rats under stress through the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116729. [PMID: 38776676 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with depression causes severe cognitive impairments. The devastating conditions will further compromise the overall quality of life. The overconsumption of high-fat and high-sucrose (HFS) diet is one of the modifiable risk factors for T2D, depression, and cognitive impairments. Thus, it is essential to identify effective therapeutic strategies to overcome the cognitive impairments in T2D with depression. We proposed environmental enrichment (EE) which encompasses social, cognitive, and physical components as the alternative treatment for such impairments. We also investigated the potential neuroprotective properties of the antidiabetic drug metformin. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EE and metformin interventions on hippocampal neuronal death, and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment in T2D rats under stress. METHODS Thirty-two male rats (200-250 g) were divided into four groups: C group (standard diet + conventional cage), DS group [HFS-induced T2D + restraint stress (RS)], DSE group [HFS-induced T2D + RS + EE] and DSEM group [HFS + RS + EE + metformin]. Serum corticosterone (CORT) was measured to evaluate stress levels. The serum Free Oxygen Radicals Testing (FORT) and Free Oxygen Radicals Defence Test (FORD) were measured to evaluate the systemic oxidative status (OS). Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and T-maze tasks were performed to evaluate cognitive functions. Rats were humanely sacrificed to collect brains for histological, morphometric, and hippocampal gene expression studies. RESULTS The CORT and the serum FORT levels in the DSE and DSEM groups were lower than in the DS group. Meanwhile, the serum BDNF, T-maze scores, histological, and morphometric analysis were improved in the DSE and DSEM groups than in the DS group. These findings supported that EE and the combined interventions of EE and metformin had neuroprotective properties. The hippocampal gene expression analysis revealed that the DSE and DSEM groups showed improved regulation of BDNF-TrkB signalling pathways, including the BDNF/TrkB binding, PI3K - Akt pathway, Ras-MAPK pathway, PLCγ-Ca2+ pathway, and CREB transcription. CONCLUSION EE and the combined interventions of EE and metformin improved hippocampal neuron survival and hippocampal-dependent memory in T2D rats under stress by enhancing gene expression regulation of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teh Rasyidah Ismail
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia; Clinical Laboratory Science Section, Institute of Medical Science Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan 43000, Malaysia
| | - Christina Gertrude Yap
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia
| | - Rakesh Naidu
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia
| | - Lugganya Shri
- Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Batu 3 1/2, Jalan, Bukit Air Nasi, Bedong, Kedah 08100, Malaysia
| | - Narendra Pamidi
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500, Malaysia.
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Li Z, Kong W, Park HY, Koo SJ, Bang M, Park JT, Lee E, An SK. Association of hair cortisol concentration with brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene methylation: The role of sex as a moderator. Stress Health 2024:e3401. [PMID: 38581566 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) reflects the long-term activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in response to stress. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor DNA methylation (BDNF DNAM) may affect HCC, and sex and Val66Met may contribute to this association. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between HCC and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) DNAM, and the moderating effects of Val66Met and sex. We recruited 191 healthy young participants (96 women, mean age 23.0 ± 2.6 years) and collected body samples to evaluate HCC, and to determine BDNF DNAM and Val66Met genotypes. We analyzed the effects of BDNF DNAM, sex, and Val66Met on HCC. We also evaluated the associations between BDNF DNAM and HCC in groups separated by sex and genotypes. We found a marked association of BDNF DNAM with HCC across men and women. After dividing the data by sex, a positive correlation of HCC with BDNF DNAM was found only in women. There was no substantial moderation effect of Val66Met genotypes on the association between BDNF DNAM and HCC. Therefore, BDNF DNAM was found to have positive association with HCC only in healthy young women, indicating that sex moderates the association of BDNF DNAM with long-term HPA axis activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxu Li
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wanji Kong
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Yoon Park
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Jun Koo
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Graduate Program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Minji Bang
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jung Tak Park
- Institute of Kidney Disease Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Lee
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suk Kyoon An
- Section of Self, Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Graduate Program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
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Gou L, Li Y, Liu S, Sang H, Lan J, Chen J, Wang L, Li C, Lian B, Zhang X, Sun H, Sun L. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine improves PTSD-associated behaviors and structural plasticity via modulating BDNF-mTOR signaling in the nucleus accumbens. J Affect Disord 2023; 335:129-140. [PMID: 37137411 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness caused by either experiencing or observing a traumatic event that is perceived to pose a serious risk to one's life. (2R,6R)-HNK has an alleviating effect on negative emotions, nevertheless, the mechanism of (2R,6R)-HNK action is unclear. METHODS In this study, the single prolonged stress and electric foot shock (SPS&S) method was used to establish a rat model of PTSD. After determining the validity of the model, (2R,6R)-HNK was administered to the NAc by microinjection using a concentration gradient of 10, 50, and 100 μM, and the effects of the drug in the SPS&S rat model were evaluated. Moreover, our study measured changes in related proteins in the NAc (BDNF, p-mTOR/mTOR, and PSD95) and synaptic ultrastructure. RESULTS In the SPS&S group, the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and PSD95 was reduced and synaptic morphology was damaged in the NAc. In contrast, after the administration of 50 μM (2R,6R)-HNK, SPS&S-treated rats improved their exploration and depression-linked behavior, while protein levels and synaptic ultrastructure were also restored in the NAc. With the administration of 100 μM (2R,6R)-HNK, locomotor behavior, and social interaction improved in the PTSD model. LIMITATIONS The mechanism of BDNF-mTOR signaling after (2R,6R)-HNK administration was not explored. CONCLUSION (2R,6R)-HNK may ameliorate negative mood and social avoidance symptoms in PTSD rats by regulating BDNF/mTOR-mediated synaptic structural plasticity in the NAc, providing new targets for the development of anti-PTSD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Gou
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Yu Li
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Shiqi Liu
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Haohan Sang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Jiajun Lan
- School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Jinhong Chen
- College of Extended Education, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Clinical Competency Training Center, Medical Experiment and Training Center, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, China
| | - Changjiang Li
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Bo Lian
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Xianqiang Zhang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China; National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health and the Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
| | - Lin Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
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Neuroplasticity and Multilevel System of Connections Determine the Integrative Role of Nucleus Accumbens in the Brain Reward System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189806. [PMID: 34575969 PMCID: PMC8471564 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a significant role not only in the physiological processes associated with reward and satisfaction but also in many diseases of the central nervous system. Summary of the current state of knowledge on the morphological and functional basis of such a diverse function of this structure may be a good starting point for further basic and clinical research. The NAc is a part of the brain reward system (BRS) characterized by multilevel organization, extensive connections, and several neurotransmitter systems. The unique role of NAc in the BRS is a result of: (1) hierarchical connections with the other brain areas, (2) a well-developed morphological and functional plasticity regulating short- and long-term synaptic potentiation and signalling pathways, (3) cooperation among several neurotransmitter systems, and (4) a supportive role of neuroglia involved in both physiological and pathological processes. Understanding the complex function of NAc is possible by combining the results of morphological studies with molecular, genetic, and behavioral data. In this review, we present the current views on the NAc function in physiological conditions, emphasizing the role of its connections, neuroplasticity processes, and neurotransmitter systems.
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