The antidepressant effect of musk in an animal model of depression: a histopathological study

Abstract

Depression is a significant public health concern all over the world, especially in modern communities. This study aims to assess the efficacy of musk in alleviating the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in an animal model of depression and to explore the underlying mechanism of this effect. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n = 10): control, CUMS, CUMS+fluoxetine and CUMS+musk. At the end of the experiment, behavioral tests were administered and serum corticosterone and testosterone levels were assessed. Surface markers, proteins and gene expressions of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the hippocampus were assessed. The immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, Ki67 and caspase-3 was also assessed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Musk alleviated the behavioral changes caused by CUMS and reduced elevated corticosterone levels. It reduced CUMS-induced neuronal atrophy in the CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and restored astrocytes. Musk reduced the neuro- and glial apoptosis observed in stressed mice in a manner comparable to that of fluoxetine. Musk induced these effects through up-regulating both BDNF and GR gene and protein expressions. Musk has an antidepressant-like effect in an animal model of depression, so it is advisable to assess its efficacy in people continually exposed to stressors.

Venlafaxine ameliorates the depression-like behaviors and hippocampal S100B expression in a rat depression model

“…The increased hippocampal levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been found in the CUMS model of depression, and the improvement of CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors are associated with a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the rat hippocampus [47, 48]. In addition, the astrocytes have been damaged and their immunoreactivity decrease in the hippocampus of rats exposed to the CUMS [28, 49]. Taken together, we speculate that chronic stress may lead to damage of astrocytes and the hippocampus, causing increases in S100B, which in turn may result in pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression-like symptoms in the CUMS model of depression.…”

Can Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Relief the Impact of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress on the Mice Salivary Glands?

“…Decreased BDNF content in the rat hippocampus following chronic stress has been previously reported (Zheng et al 2006). In more recent studies both BDNF mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated in mice hippocampus after exposure to the CUMS (Filho et al, 2015, Ayuob et al 2016). The reduction in hippocampal BDNF expression in chronic stressful conditions was attributed to corticosterone secretion (Zheng et al 2006).…”

Histological and molecular techniques utilized to investigate animal models of depression. An updated review

“…Exposure to chronic stress as well as glucocorticoid administration induced degeneration in pyramidal CA3 neurons (Warner‐Schmidt and Duman, ). In previous researches, exposure of rats to CUMS had resulted in significant reduction in immune‐expression of GR in the hippocampus compared with the control rats (Ali et al, ; Ayuob et al, ; see Figure ).…”

“…It was reported that CUS‐induced depression significantly decreased BDNF protein levels (Ali et al., ; Banerjee et al, ; Li et al, ; Mao et al, ; Yu et al, ) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex as compared with the controls. For the determination of GR and BDNF protein level either Western blot analysis (Li et al, 2013a,b; Wang et al, ) or sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Ali et al, Ayuob et al, ; Doron et al, ) was utilized (see Figure ).…”

“…Cited after permission fromAyuob et al (2016) [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] Upper panel: The hippocampus of rats exposed to CUMS. The CA3 is formed of the molecular layer (MO), the pyramidal layer (PY), and the polymorphic layer (PO).…”