Fluoxetine reverts chronic restraint stress-induced depression-like behaviour and increases neuropeptide Y and galanin expression in mice

Søren Hofman Oliveira Christiansen, Mikkel Vestergaard Olesen, Gitta Wörtwein, David Paul Drucker Woldbye

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82 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stressful life events and chronic stress are implicated in the development of depressive disorder in humans. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin have been shown to modulate the stress response, and exert antidepressant-like effects in rodents. To further investigate these neuropeptides in depression-like behaviour, NPY and galanin gene expression was studied in brains of mice subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS) and concomitant treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine (FLX). CRS caused a significant increase in depression-like behaviour that was associated with increased NPY mRNA levels in the medial amygdala. Concomitant FLX treatment reverted depression-like effects of CRS and led to significant increases in levels of NPY and galanin mRNA in the dentate gyrus, amygdala, and piriform cortex. These findings suggest that effects on NPY and galanin gene expression could play a role in the antidepressant effects of FLX.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBehavioural Brain Research
Volume216
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)585-91
Number of pages7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jan 2011

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