1. Inflammation and increased IDO in hippocampus contribute to depression-like behavior induced by estrogen deficiency.
- Author
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Xu, Yongjun, Sheng, Hui, Tang, Zhiping, Lu, Jianqiang, and Ni, Xin
- Subjects
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MENTAL depression , *INFLAMMATION , *HIPPOCAMPUS (Brain) , *PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of estrogen , *HORMONE deficiencies , *INDOLEAMINE 2,3-dioxygenase , *OVARIECTOMY - Abstract
Estrogen deficiency is involved in the development of depression. However, the mechanism underlying estrogen modulates depression-like behavior remains largely unknown. Inflammation and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) have been shown to play pivotal roles in various depression models. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether estrogen deficiency-induced depression-like behavior is associated with inflammation and IDO activation in brain. The results showed that ovariectomy resulted in depression-like behavior in female rats and caused a decrease in 5-HT content and an increase in levels of IDO, IFN-γ, IL-6, toll like receptor (TLR)-4 and phosphorylated NF-κB (p65 subunit) in hippocampus but not in prefrontal cortex (PFC). 17β-Estradiol (E 2 ) treatment ameliorated depression-like behavior and restored above neurochemical alternations in hippocampus in ovariectomized rats. Partial correlation analysis showed that the levels of phosphorylated p65, IFN-γ and IL-6 in hippocampus correlated to serum E 2 level. Our study suggests that estrogen inhibits inflammation and activates of IDO and maintains 5-HT level in hippocampus, thereby ameliorating depression-like behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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