硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒大鼠脑损伤的保护作用

目的:探讨硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒脑损伤的作用及可能机制.方法:雄性 Wistar 大鼠60只随机分为6组,酒精模型组以剂量为8ml·kg-1·d-150%的酒精每天灌胃一次,纳洛酮药物组给予乙醇半小时后腹腔注射纳洛酮0.08mg·k-1·d-1,硫酸软骨素低、中、高剂量干预组在酒精模型组的基础上分别给予硫酸软骨素50、100、150mg·kg-1·d-1,空白对照组给予等体积的蒸馏水,持续2周;第三周把50%的酒精的剂量递增为12mg·kg-1·d-1,持续灌胃6周.在第八周末实验结束后取血,分离血清,留取脑组织.HE染色观察各组大鼠神经细胞的变化.生化测定各组大鼠血清及脑组织匀浆中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性以及脂质过氧物终未产物丙二醛(MDA);并测定脑皮质中β-内啡肽含量(β-EP).结果:模型组大鼠大脑皮质和海马区神经元数量明显减少,神经细胞排列紊乱.硫酸软骨素中剂量组大鼠大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞排列层次较清晰.与酒精组相比较,硫酸软骨素中剂量组大鼠血清和脑组织匀浆中MDA含量明显降低(P<0.01),脑皮质中β-内啡肽含量明显降低(P<0.01);GSH-PX含量及SOD活性显著升高(P<0.01).结论:硫酸软骨素对大鼠慢性酒精中毒脑损伤具有保护作用.     

石菖蒲不同部位对戊四唑点燃大鼠神经肽Y含量的影响

目的:研究石菖蒲不同部位对戊四唑点燃癫痫模型大鼠神经肽Y含量的影响.方法:SD大鼠80只,腹腔注射戊四唑(PTZ)溶液35mg·kg1体重,隔天1次,共14次.点燃成功的大鼠,分8组,每天灌胃1次,分别给予石菖蒲挥发油50mg·kg-1体重、石菖蒲去油水提液高剂量28g·kg-1体重、中剂量14·kg-1体重、低剂量7g·kg-1体重、β-细辛醚100mg·kg-1体重、α-细辛醚70mg·kg-1体重,阳性对照组给予丙戊酸钠(VPA)126mg·kg-1体重治疗,模型组给予同量生理盐水.另设正常组5只,正常喂养,不作任何处理.治疗36天后注射同剂量戊四唑点燃测试药效,断头取脑,分取海马用放免法测定神经肤Y(NPY)含量.结果:与正常组比较,治疗后造模的各组大鼠海马神经肽Y含量升高,石菖蒲去油水提液低剂量组、阳性组有统计学意义(P<0.01),模型组与正常组比较有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论:治疗后造模各组大鼠海马神经肤Y含量升高,起抗癫痫作用.     

三种非典型抗精神病药对儿童青少年精神分裂症患者血脂、肝功能和认知功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨利培酮、阿立哌唑、奥氮平分别对儿童青少年精神分裂症患者肝功能、血脂和认知功能的影响。方法：选取2015年1月至2019年12月我院收治的84例儿童青少年精神分裂症患者,采用乱数表法随机分为阿立哌唑组（n=28,阿立哌唑治疗）、利培酮组（n=28,利培酮治疗）、奥氮平组（n=28,奥氮平治疗）,均治疗8周,对比三组患者症状评分、血脂、肝功能、认知功能以及不良反应。结果：三组治疗8周后阳性与阴性症状量表（PANSS）评分整体比较无差异（P>0.05）,三组治疗8周后PANSS评分均较治疗前降低（P<0.05）。奥氮平组、利培酮组治疗8周后三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)高于阿立哌唑组,且奥氮平组高于利培酮组（P<0.05）;奥氮平组、利培酮组治疗8周后高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)低于阿立哌唑组,且奥氮平组低于利培酮组（P<0.05）。三组不良反应发生率整体比较无差异（P>0.05）。阿立哌唑组治疗8周后延迟回忆数、即刻回忆数、回忆总数、再认数评分均高于利培酮组、奥氮平组（P<0.05）。利培酮组治疗8周后ALT、AST、TBIL高于治疗前（P<0.05）,利培酮组治疗8周后ALT、AST、TBIL高于阿立哌唑组、奥氮平组（P<0.05）。结论：利培酮、阿立哌唑、奥氮平应用于儿童青少年精神分裂症中,可获得相当的治疗效果,其中利培酮对肝功能影响较大,奥氮平对人体血脂影响较大,阿立哌唑对血脂、肝功能影响轻,改善认知功能效果优于利培酮、奥氮平。     

硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用(英文)

目的:研究硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用。方法:60只Wistar大鼠随机分成六个组:空白组给予蒸馏水,酒精模型组给予50%的酒精8ml·kg-1·d-1灌胃,纳洛酮组在给予酒精三十分钟后腹腔注射纳洛酮0.08mgkg-1·d-1,硫酸软骨素低、中、高剂量组在酒精模型组的基础上分别给予硫酸软骨素50,100和150mg·kg-·1d-1。两周后酒精的剂量增加到12mg·kg-1d-1。在第八周末,分离大鼠脑组织,观察大鼠神经细胞。用生物方法测定大鼠脑组织中GSH-PX、SOD、MDA以及Ache的活性。结果:模型组大鼠大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞的数量明显减少并且排列紊乱;和酒精模型组相比较,硫酸软骨素中剂量组大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞排列较整齐,酒精+Chondroitin组脑组织中MDA的含量和Ache降低(P<0.01),GSH-PX的含量和SOD的活力均明显增加(P<0.01)。结论:硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤具有保护作用。     

阻断NMDA受体可增强皮质酮对海马脑源性神经营养因子表达的抑制:cAMP反应元件结合蛋白的作用

高浓度的皮质酮可引起海马形态与功能的损伤,其中脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF) 表达的改变在海马形态与功能损伤中扮演重要角色。本实验的目的是观察单次皮下注射皮质酮后海马内BDNF-mRNA、前 体蛋白及成熟型蛋白表达的改变,并观察N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartate NMDA)受体阻滞剂MK801对皮质酮 作用的影响。实验结果显示,单次皮下注射皮质酮2 mg／kg,3 h后海马内BDNF mRNA、前体蛋白及成熟型蛋白的表达 均降低;MK801(0．1 mg／kg)对皮质酮的这一作用有增强效果。单独给予皮质酮或注射MK801 30 min后再给予皮质酮, 均能明显降低海马中cAMP反应元件结合蛋白(cAMP response element binding protein,CREB)的磷酸化水平,MK801与 皮质酮联用时CREB的磷酸化水平降低更为显著(与单独给予皮质酮相比,P<0．05)。实验结果提示,CREB磷酸化水平降 低可能是皮质酮引起海马BDNF表达减少的重要中间环节,阻断NMDA受体可加强皮质酮降低BDNF表达的效应。     

硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用

目的:研究硫酸软骨素时慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用.方法:60只Wistar大鼠随机分成六个组:空白组给予蒸馏水,酒精模型组给予50%的酒精8 ml·kg-1·d-1灌胃,纳洛酮组在给予酒精三十分钟后腹腔注射纳洛酮0.08mgkg-1·d-1,硫酸软骨素低、中、高剂量组在酒精模型组的基础上分别给予硫酸软骨素50,100和150mg·kg-1·d-1.两周后酒精的剂量增加到12mg·kg-1d-1.在第八周末,分离大鼠脑组织,观察大鼠神经细胞.用生物方法测定大鼠脑组织中GSH-PX、SOD、MDA以及Ache的活性.结果:模型组大鼠大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞的数量明显减少并且排列紊乱;和酒精模型组相比较,硫酸软骨素中剂量组大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞排列较整齐,酒精+Chondroitin组脑组织中MDA的含量和Ache降低(P＜0.01),GSH-PX的含量和SOD的活力均明显增加(P＜0.01).结论:硫酸软骨素时慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤具有保护作用.     

大剂量丙种球蛋白联合地塞米松治疗重度ITP疗效观察

目的评价大剂量丙种球蛋白联合地塞米松、单独大剂量地塞米松及单独大剂量丙种球蛋白3种方法治疗重度ITP的疗效.方法对人院时PLT≤25×109/L,出血倾向明显的45例患儿随机分成3个组,每组15例.联合组:静滴丙种球蛋白1.0g·kg-1·d-1,连用2天,同时静滴地塞米松1.5mg·kg-1·d-1,连用7天,第7天起口服强的松2mg·kg-1·d-1;地塞米松组:静滴地塞米松1.5mg·kg-1·d-1,连用7天,第7天起口服强的松2mg·kg-1·d-1;丙种球蛋白组:静滴丙种球蛋白1.0g·kg-1·d-1,连用2天.连续监测治疗效果.结果联合组、丙种球蛋白组、地塞米松组使PLT≥50×109/L时间分别为(2.0±1.1)天,(2.8士1.2)天,(3.9士1.3)天;≥100×109/L时间分别为(4.0±1.4)天,(5.2土1.5)天,(6.9±1.7)天;PLT的峰值(×109/L)分别为(368±131),(317±121),(213±76). 结论大剂量丙种球蛋白联合地塞米松静滴治疗重度ITP比单纯用其中任一种药物升高血小板的作用更为显著,迅速.     

四种温带森林土壤氮矿化与硝化时空格局

利用PVC管原位培养连续取样法测定了东北地区4种具有代表性的森林生态系统(硬阔叶林、蒙古栎林、红松林、落叶松林)土壤氮素矿化、硝化的时间动态及氮矿化的空间分布格局.结果表明:4种森林土壤氮素矿化存在明显的时空变异.蒙古栎和红松林土壤在6月份表现出强烈的氮矿化和硝化作用,而硬阔叶林及落叶松林7月份氮素矿化强烈.4种森林生态系统上层土壤的氮净矿(硝)化率显著高于下层土壤.4种林型土壤的硝化过程在氮矿化过程中占有重要地位,其NO-3-N在无机氮中的比例分别为:79.9%～91.1%(硬阔叶林)、50.7%～80.5%(蒙古栎林)、54.1%～92.0%(红松林)、63.7%～86.5%(落叶松林).生态系统构成决定了土壤氮素的矿化能力.阔叶林和针阔混交林生态系统矿化率大于纯针叶林生态系统.硬阔叶林、红松林、蒙古栎林、落叶松林的平均净矿化率分别为:(0.58±0.01) mg · kg-1 · d-1、(0.47±0.19) mg · kg-1 · d-1、(0.39±0.11) mg · kg-1 · d-1和(0.23±0.06) mg · kg-1 · d-1.4种林型氮素矿化作用与地下5 cm温度呈正相关,并受土壤表层 (0～10 cm)水分显著影响.土壤微生物量氮与土壤氮矿化呈显著正相关.     

负重爬梯与有氧跑台运动对糖尿病大鼠学习记忆能力的影响及其机制探讨

目的：研究负重爬梯与有氧跑台运动对糖尿病大鼠学习记忆能力的改善效果并探索其可能分子机制。方法：40只雄性大鼠,随机分为正常对照组（NC）、糖尿病对照组（DC）、糖尿病负重爬梯组（DL）和糖尿病有氧跑台组（DA）,以单次腹腔注射链脲佐菌素构建糖尿病大鼠模型。DL组在晚上进行负重爬梯训练,10次/组×3组/天,每次间歇2 min,6天/周×6周;DA组在同一时间进行20 m/min的跑台训练,30 min/d。于造模成功和运动干预结束后采用Morris水迷宫检测大鼠的学习记忆能力;第2次水迷宫测试结束后断颈处死大鼠,采用RT-QPCR法检测大鼠海马内脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）、TRKB、CREB mRNA表达水平。结果：与NC组相比,DC组大鼠海马BDNF、CREB基因表达显著下降,学习记忆能力显著降低。与DC组相比,DL和DA组大鼠海马BDNF、CREB基因表达显著上调,学习能力显著提高;DL大鼠海马TrkB基因显著上调,大鼠空间记忆能力显著改善,而DA组大鼠海马TrkB基因无显著变化,大鼠空间记忆能力无改善,与DA组相比,DL组大鼠海马TRKB、CREB基因显著上调。结论：有氧跑台运动与负重爬梯运动介导BDNF/TrkB/CREB信号通路对糖尿病大鼠的学习能力均有促进作用,而负重爬梯运动对糖尿病大鼠记忆能力的改善优于有氧运动方式。     

推拿对慢性应激大鼠抑郁行为的影响及其机制

目的: 探讨推拿对慢性应激大鼠抑郁行为的影响及其作用机制。方法: 制备慢性轻度不可预见性的应激大鼠模型^[1-2],造模21 d后,进行推拿治疗14 d。分组:空白对照组、模型组、推拿组、氟西汀组,每组10只。每日推拿膀胱经重要穴位10 min(间隔2 min,共2次)。通过体质量检测、旷场、糖水消耗实验和水迷宫实验评价抑郁模型大鼠行为学改变情况;蛋白质免疫印迹法(Western blot)法检测大鼠海马及前额叶皮质组织中ERK/P-ERK、BDNF蛋白表达情况。结果: 模型组与空白组比较,大鼠的体质量、旷场、糖水消耗实验和水迷宫数据均显著下降(P＜0.01),P-ERK、BDNF蛋白含量均显著降低(P＜0.01);推拿组和氟西汀组与模型组比较,大鼠的体质量、旷场实验、糖水消耗实验和水迷宫实验数据均显著上升(P＜0.01),推拿组和氟西汀组大鼠海马及前额叶皮质组织中P-ERK、BDNF蛋白含量均显著升高(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),氟西汀组升高更为显著(P＜0.01)。结论: 推拿可上调大鼠海马及前额叶皮质组织中ERK蛋白的磷酸化水平,激活ERK信号通路,促进效应蛋白BDNF的表达,改善慢性应激大鼠的抑郁行为。     

Spatio-temporal activation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein, activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein and brain-derived nerve growth factor: a mechanism for pontine-wave generator activation-dependent two-way active-avoidance memory processing in the rat

The present study explored possible physiological and molecular mechanisms of pontine-wave (P-wave) generator activation-dependent memory processing in the rat using a two-way active-avoidance learning paradigm. The results show that learning training increased rapid eye movement sleep and activated brainstem cells in the P-wave generator. During this period, there was a time-dependent increase in phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the dorsal hippocampus and amygdala and increased synthesis of activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) in the dorsal hippocampus, amygdala, frontal cortex and occipital cortex. Learning training also increased synthesis of brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) in the occipital cortex, amygdala and dorsal hippocampus at different time intervals. During this time, the levels of nerve growth factor did not change. The results also show that the increase in rapid eye movement sleep P-wave density during the post-training 3-h recording session is positively correlated with the increased levels of phosphorylated CREB, BDNF and Arc in the dorsal hippocampus. These results suggest that memory processing of two-way active-avoidance learning may involve excitation of P-wave-generating cells in the brainstem and increased expression of phosphorylated CREB, Arc and BDNF in a time-dependent manner in the forebrain. These dynamic changes in cellular and molecular features provide considerable insight into the mechanisms of the P-wave generator activation-dependent memory consolidation process.     

The mechanism of acute fasting‐induced antidepressant‐like effects in mice

Acute fasting induced antidepressant‐like effects. However, the exact brain region and mechanism of these actions are still largely unknown. Therefore, in this study the antidepressant‐like effects of acute fasting on c‐Fos expression and BDNF levels were investigated. Consistent with our previous findings, immobility time was remarkably shortened by 9 hrs fasting in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, these antidepressant‐like effects of 9 fasting were inhibited by a 5‐HT_2A/2C receptor agonist (±)‐1‐(2, 5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodophenyl)‐2‐aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI), and the effect of DOI was blocked by pretreatment with a selective 5‐HT_2A receptor antagonist ketanserin. Immunohistochemical study has shown that c‐Fos level was significantly increased by 9 hrs fasting in prefrontal cortex but not hippocampus and habenular. Fasting‐induced c‐Fos expression was further enhanced by DOI in prefrontal cortex, and these enhancements were inhibited by ketanserin. The increased BDNF levels by fasting were markedly inhibited by DOI in frontal cortex and hippocampus, and these effects of DOI on BDNF levels were also blocked by ketanserin. These findings suggest that the antidepressant‐like effects of acute fasting may be exerted via 5‐HT_2A receptor and particularly sensitive to neural activity in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, these antidepressant‐like effects are also mediated by CREB and BDNF pathway in hippocampus and frontal cortex. Therefore, fasting may be potentially helpful against depression.     

Expression of BDNF and TrkB Phosphorylation in the Rat Frontal Cortex During Morphine Withdrawal are NO Dependent

Nitric oxide (NO) mediates pharmacological effects of opiates including dependence and abstinence. Modulation of NO synthesis during the induction phase of morphine dependence affects manifestations of morphine withdrawal syndrome, though little is known about mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Neurotrophic and growth factors are involved in neuronal adaptation during opiate dependence. NO-dependent modulation of morphine dependence may be mediated by changes in expression and activity of neurotrophic and/or growth factors in the brain. Here, we studied the effects of NO synthesis inhibition during the induction phase of morphine dependence on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) as well as their receptors in rat brain regions after spontaneous morphine withdrawal in dependent animals. Morphine dependence in rats was induced within 6 days by 12 injections of morphine in increasing doses (10–100 mg/kg), and NO synthase inhibitor L-N^G-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 mg/kg) was given 1 h before each morphine injection. The expression of the BDNF, GDNF, NGF, IGF1, and their receptors in the frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and midbrain was assessed 40 h after morphine withdrawal. L-NAME treatment during morphine intoxication resulted in an aggravation of the spontaneous morphine withdrawal severity. Morphine withdrawal was accompanied by upregulation of BDNF, IGF1, and their receptors TrkB and IGF1R, respectively, on the mRNA level in the frontal cortex, and only BDNF in hippocampus and midbrain. L-NAME administration during morphine intoxication decreased abstinence-induced upregulation of these mRNAs in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and midbrain. L-NAME prevented from abstinence-induced elevation of mature but not pro-form of BDNF polypeptide in the frontal cortex. While morphine abstinence did not affect TrkB protein levels as well as its phosphorylation status, inhibition of NO synthesis decreased levels of phosphorylated TrkB after withdrawal. Thus, NO signaling during induction of dependence may be involved in the mechanisms of BDNF expression and processing at abstinence, thereby affecting signaling through TrkB in the frontal cortex.     

Repeated treatment with mirtazepine induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression in rats.

Recent studies indicate a role of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the pathophysiology of depression, as well as in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs (ADs). It has been shown that serum BDNF levels are decreased in depressed patients. Moreover, antidepressant treatment increases serum BDNF levels and it is positively correlated with medication response. In addition, repeated administration of ADs induces an increase in rat hippocampal or cortical BDNF gene expression. Since the most potent effect of ADs on BDNF gene expression was found after prolonged treatment, in the present study we investigated the influence of repeated treatment (twice daily for 14 days) of the new AD mirtazapine (5 or 10 mg/kg) on BDNF mRNA level (the Northern blot) in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Imipramine was used as a reference compound. The experiment was carried out on male Wistar rats. The tissue for biochemical assays was collected 24 h after the last doses of mirtazapine and imipramine. We also studied the effect of repeated mirtazapine on the action of the 5-HT2A receptor agonist (+/-)DOI in the behavioral test (head twitches induced by (+/-)DOI) in rats. The obtained results showed that, like imipramine (10 mg/kg), mirtazapine (10 mg/kg) increased BDNF gene expression in both the examined brain regions: in the hippocampus by 24.0 and 26.5%, in the cerebral cortex by 29.9 and 41.5%, respectively, compared with the vehicle-treated control. Neither mirtazapine nor imipramine administered repeatedly at a lower dose (5 mg/kg) significantly changed BDNF mRNA levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Repeated treatment with mirtazapine (10, but not 5 mg/kg) inhibited the behavioral syndrome induced by (+/-)DOI. This study provides first conclusive evidence that repeated mirtazapine administration increases BDNF mRNA levels; moreover, it indicates that the enhancement of BDNF gene expression may be essential for the clinical effect of mirtazapine.     

Combined brain‐derived neurotrophic factor with extinction training alleviate impaired fear extinction in an animal model of post‐traumatic stress disorder

Impaired fear memory extinction (Ext) is one of the hallmark symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, since the precise mechanism of impaired Ext remains unknown, effective interventions have not yet been established. Recently, hippocampal‐prefrontal brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity was shown to be crucial for Ext in naïve rats. We therefore examined whether decreased hippocampal‐prefrontal BDNF activity is also involved in the Ext of rats subjected to a single prolonged stress (SPS) as a model of PTSD. BDNF levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and phosphorylation of TrkB was measured by immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of SPS rats. We also examined whether BDNF infusion into the ventral mPFC or hippocampus alleviated the impaired Ext of SPS rats in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. SPS significantly decreased the levels of BDNF in both the hippocampus and mPFC and TrkB phosphorylation in the ventral mPFC. Infusion of BDNF 24 hours after conditioning in the infralimbic cortex (ILC), but not the prelimbic cortex (PLC) nor hippocampus, alleviated the impairment of Ext. Since amelioration of impaired Ext by BDNF infusion did not occur without extinction training, it seems the two interventions must occur consecutively to alleviate impaired Ext. Additionally, BDNF infusion markedly increased TrkB phosphorylation in the ILC of SPS rats. These findings suggest that decreased BDNF signal transduction might be involved in the impaired Ext of SPS rats, and that activation of the BDNF‐TrkB signal might be a novel therapeutic strategy for the impaired Ext by stress.     

丁香油酚在牙槽骨组织中的骨保护作用评价

绝经后雌激素缺乏会引起牙槽骨质流失、重塑和炎症。丁香油酚是一种酚类化合物,在牙科应用广泛并具有抗炎特性。在本研究中,以卵巢切除的大鼠为模型,服用不同剂量丁香油酚(2mg·kg-1·d-1和4mg·kg-1·d-1)12周(卵巢切除组),研究丁香油酚在牙槽骨组织中的骨保护作用。使用ELISA法检测血清中骨代谢标记物和促炎细胞因子,使用高分辨率微型计算机断层摄影术(CT)扫描牙槽骨形态,并进行骨组织学分析(H&E染色)。研究结果表明,丁香油酚不会增加卵巢切除大鼠体重和延缓子宫萎缩。由丁香油酚处理的卵巢切除大鼠的骨代谢标志物和炎性细胞因子含量显著提高,特别是高剂量组。丁香油酚的处理显著减弱了牙槽骨的形态测量变化,改善了牙槽吸收功能和牙龈渗透。卵巢切除大鼠的牙槽骨由于丁香油酚处理得到改善,炎性细胞因子表达降低。本研究初步结论表明,丁香油酚可以防止卵巢切除动物实验性诱导的牙槽骨损失,具有抗炎作用,对牙槽骨组织具有保护作用。     

Chronic Administration of Mood Stabilizers Upregulates BDNF and Bcl-2 Expression Levels in Rat Frontal Cortex

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) proteins are neuroprotective factors involved in neuronal signaling, survival and plasticity. Both can be regulated by cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) protein. Decreased levels of BDNF and Bcl-2 are implicated in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. The present study investigated whether chronically administered mood stabilizers would increase BDNF and/or Bcl-2 levels in rat brain. Real time RT-PCR, sandwich ELISA and Western blotting were used to measure BDNF and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in the frontal cortex of rats chronically administered carbamazepine (CBZ) or lamotrigine (LTG) to produce plasma concentrations therapeutically relevant to bipolar disorder. Chronic CBZ and LTG significantly increased BDNF and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in the frontal cortex. A common mechanism of action of mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder may involve neuroprotection mediated by upregulation of brain BDNF and Bcl-2 expression.