Anti-depressive effects of valproate involved in improvement of oxidative stress balance and elevation of BDNF expression in CUS-induced rat depression model

Abstract

Abstract: AIM: To investigate if the improvement of oxidative stress function and BDNF expression is associated with anti-depressive effect of valproate in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced rat depression model.METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (CG), model group (MG), valproate-treated control group (VAPC), and valproate-treated model group (VAPM). The open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST) were used to evaluate depressive behaviors. Biochemistry kits were used to determine activity of SOD and CAT as well as MDA level from the cerebral cortex, and real time PCR and Western blot were used to determine expression of BDNF mRNA and protein of hippocampus.RESULTS: Compared with CG, the open field score, SOD activity as well as CAT activity were decreased significantly, the immobility time of FST and level of MDA were increased significantly in MG rats; meanwhile both mRNA and protein expression of BDNF in hippocampus were decreased obviously in MG rats. The treatment of valproate obviously blunted the changes above caused by CUS, but failed to affect that from CG rats.CONCLUSION: Improvement of oxidative stress response and elevation of BDNF expression may be responsible for anti-depressive effect of valproate in CUS-induced rat depression model.

Key words: depression, chronic unpredictable stress, valproate, oxidative stress, BDNF

CLC Number:

LIU Ren, QIU Hong-mei, JIANG Xing-hui, YAO Xin-kai, WU Ya-ling, ZHOU Qi-xin. Anti-depressive effects of valproate involved in improvement of oxidative stress balance and elevation of BDNF expression in CUS-induced rat depression model[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2015, 20(5): 481-485.

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