Suppression of adult cytogenesis in the rat brain leads to sex-differentiated disruption of the HPA axis activity.

Objectives: The action of stress hormones, mainly glucocorticoids, starts and coordinates the systemic response to stressful events. The HPA axis activity is predicated on information processing and modulation by upstream centres, such as the hippocampus where adult-born neurons (hABN) have been reported to be an important component in the processing and integration of new information. Still, it remains unclear whether and how hABN regulates HPA axis activity and CORT production, particularly when considering sex differences.

Cell Cycle Regulation of Hippocampal Progenitor Cells in Experimental Models of Depression and after Treatment with Fluoxetine.

Changes in adult hippocampal cell proliferation and genesis have been largely implicated in depression and antidepressant action, though surprisingly, the underlying cell cycle mechanisms are largely undisclosed. Using both an unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS) rat model of depression and rat hippocampal-derived neurosphere culture approaches, we aimed to unravel the cell cycle mechanisms regulating hippocampal cell proliferation and genesis in depression and after antidepressant treatment. We show that the hippocampal dentate gyrus (hDG) of uCMS animals have less proliferating cells and a decreased proportion of cells in the G2/M phase, suggesting a G1 phase arrest; this is accompanied by decreased levels of cyclin D1, E, and A expression.

The Association of Metabolic Dysfunction and Mood Across Lifespan Interacts With the Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity.

Numerous studies suggest a relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome, which is likely influenced by age. Interestingly, functional imaging analysis has shown an association between functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN-FC) and components of metabolic syndrome, which is explored in this study. From a larger longitudinal cohort study on healthy aging, 943 individuals were extensively characterized for mood and cognition.

miR-409 and miR-411 Modulation in the Adult Brain of a Rat Model of Depression and After Fluoxetine Treatment.

Depression is a chronic debilitating disorder predicted to affect around 20% of the world population. Both brain and peripheral changes, including neuroplastic changes have been shown to occur in the brains of depressed individuals and animal models of depression. Over the past few decades, growing evidence has supported the role of miRNAs as regulators of critical aspects of brain plasticity and function, namely in the context of depression.

The moderator effect of age in the association between mood and adiposity in the elderly is specific for the subcutaneous adipose compartment: An MRI study.

Unlabelled: The positive association between obesity and depressive mood in young- and middle-age individuals is a phenomenon with major clinical implications in public health. Interestingly, the trend of this association in older individuals is not clear, given the conflicting results of multiple studies. Since aging is accompanied by changes in body fat distribution, we questioned whether age is a modulator of such association.

Immuno-Golgi as a tool for analyzing neuronal 3D-dendritic structure in phenotypically characterized neurons.

Characterization of neuronal dendritic structure in combination with the determination of specific neuronal phenotype or temporal generation is a challenging task. Here we present a novel method that combines bromodioxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry with Golgi-impregnation technique; with this simple non-invasive method, we are able to determine the tridimensional structure of dendritic arborization and spine shape of neurons born at a specific time in the hippocampus of adult animals. This analysis is relevant in physiological and pathological conditions in which altered neurogenesis is implicated, such as aging or emotional disorders.