Glutamate perturbations and altered neurotrophin levels have been strongly associated with the neurobiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Environmental stress is a risk factor for mood disorders, disrupting glutamatergic activity in astrocytes in addition to cognitive behaviours. Despite the negative impact of stress-induced neuropsychiatric disorders on public health, the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of the brain to stress has yet to be fully elucidated. Exposure to repeated swimming has proven useful for evaluating the loss of cognitive function after pharmacological and behavioural interventions, but its effect on glutamate function has yet to be fully explored. In the present study, rats previously exposed to repeated forced swimming were evaluated using the novel object recognition test, object location test and prepulse inhibition (PPI) test. In addition, quantification of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression and protein levels, glutamate uptake, glutathione, S100B, GluN1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and calmodulin were evaluated in the frontal cortex and hippocampus after various swimming time points. We found that swimming stress selectively impaired PPI but did not affect memory recognition. Swimming stress altered the frontal cortical and hippocampal BDNF expression and the activity of hippocampal astrocytes by reducing hippocampal glutamate uptake and enhancing glutathione content in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, these data support the assumption that astrocytes may regulate the activity of brain structures related to cognition in a manner that alters complex behaviours. Moreover, they provide new insight regarding the dynamics immediately after an aversive experience, such as after behavioural despair induction, and suggest that forced swimming can be employed to study altered glutamatergic activity and PPI disruption in rodents.
Background: Chronic stress can lead to anxiety and depression. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and crocin is a natural compound derived from saffron. Both of them are used to treat these disorders in clinical and traditional medicine, respectively.
Najas gracillima, a marine seaweed found in North America and Asia, was investigated for its neuropharmacological and antidiarrheal properties. Acetone extracts of N. gracillima (ANG) were analyzed using both in vivo and in silico methods.
Introduction: This study aimed to explore the impact and mechanism of Scutellariae radix (SR), dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi of Labiatae, on prenatal stress (PS) induced anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in the offspring in a mouse prenatal stress model.
Methods: The open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST) were utilized to assess the behavior of the offspring. Histological changes were evaluated using HE staining and Nissl staining.
Despite the prevalent utilization of antidepressant combinations in clinical settings, concerns persist regarding heightened side effects and potential drug-drug interactions (DDI). In response, this study investigates the interaction between citalopram (CIT) and duloxetine (DUL) using a multifaceted approach encompassing analytical, computational, behavioral, and biochemical techniques. Notably, the absence of published analytical methods tailored for studying antidepressant interactions underscores the novelty of our endeavor.
R. Parker is a wild grape traditionally used by indigenous people as a substitute for cultivated grapes. However, its therapeutic effects have not been extensively studied.
