Introduction: There is an unmet need for better nonpharmaceutical treatments for depression. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a novel type of neuromodulation that could be helpful for depressed patients.
Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility and potential mechanisms of LIPUS in the treatment of depression.
Methods: Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was used to generate rats with depression-like features that were treated with four weeks of LIPUS stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Depression-like behaviors were assessed with the sucrose preference, forced swim, and open field tests. BDNF/mTORC1 signaling was examined by Western blot to investigate this potential molecular mechanism. The safety of LIPUS was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining.
Results: Four weeks of LIPUS stimulation significantly increased sucrose preference and reduced forced swim immobility time in CUS rats. LIPUS also partially reversed the molecular effects of CUS that included decreased levels of BDNF, phosphorylated tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and S6 kinase (S6K). Moreover, histological staining revealed no gross tissue damage.
Conclusions: Chronic LIPUS stimulation can effectively and safely improve depression-like behaviors in CUS rats. The underlying mechanisms may be related to enhancement of BDNF/ERK/mTORC1 signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). LIPUS is a promising noninvasive neuromodulation tool that merits further study as a potential treatment for depression.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7816209 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cns.13463 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Lactoferrin-modified nanoemulsions enhance brain-targeting and therapeutic efficacy of arctigenin against Toxoplasma gondii-induced neuronal injury.
Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address:
Toxoplasma gondii, a neurotropic protozoan parasite, affects the central nervous system and causes various neurological disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that Arctigenin (AG) exhibits anti-T. gondii activity and reduces depression-like behaviors induced by T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) ligand etifoxine in an animal model of anxiety: line- and sex-dependent effects on emotionality, stress reactivity, spine density, oxytocin receptors, steroids, and microbiome composition.
Neuropharmacology
December 2024
Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address:
The treatment of stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression is still challenging. One potential therapeutical option are neurosteroids. Their synthesis is promoted by ligands of the mitochondrial translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnriched environment prevents hypernociception and depression-like behavior in a psychiatric disorder and neuropathic pain comorbidity experimental condition.
Physiol Behav
December 2024
Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,14049-900, Brazil; Behavioural Neurosciences Institute (INeC), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-900, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:
Pain is a multifactorial debilitating condition associated with some psychiatric comorbidities such as generalized anxiety and depression. Concerning pharmacological treatment, which is often inefficient or associated with intense side effects, the physical and social context may be fundamental for patient's health improvement. In this sense, we sought to assess the impact of an enriched environment (EE) on neuropathic pain (NP) and depression comorbid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic stress induces depression-like behavior in rats through affecting brain mitochondrial function and inflammation.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
December 2024
Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:
Chronic stress is involved in pathophysiology of depression, and causes some neurochemical alterations in brain. Both mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation are implicated in mediating the depression-like behavior. The objectives of present study were, at first, to confirm that chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induces depression-like behavior and alters mitochondrial function and inflammatory responses within the brain, and then to explore the role of mitochondria in the development of this depression-like behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroglia-Derived Vitamin D Binding Protein Mediates Synaptic Damage and Induces Depression by Binding to the Neuronal Receptor Megalin.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
December 2024
Department of Neurology in Affiliated Zhongda Hospital and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease in Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) is a potential biomarker of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study demonstrates for the first time that VDBP is highly expressed in core emotion-related brain regions of mice susceptible to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Specifically, the overexpression of microglia (MG)-derived VDBP in the prelimbic leads to depression-like behavior and aggravates CUMS-induced depressive phenotypes in mice, whereas conditional knockout of MG-derived VDBP can reverse both neuronal damage and depression-like behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!