Treadmill exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms through increasing serotonin expression in postpartum depression rats

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as the depressive symptoms that occur from the moment of delivery until 12 months after delivery. PPD symptoms are closely associated with reduced activity of the serotonergic system. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of 5-HT biosynthesis in the serotonergic neurons. Exercise exerts anti-depressive effect on depression patients as well as on animal models of depression. In the present study, the effect of treadmill exercise on PPD was investigated using rats. For this study, open field test for activity and forced swimming test for depressive symptoms, and immunohistochemistry for 5-HT and TPH were conducted. The rats in the exercise groups were forced to run on a motorized treadmill for 30 min once a day for 2 weeks. Activity in the open field test was decreased in the postpartum rats, however, performing treadmill running increased activity in the postpartum rats. The climbing time was decreased and the immobility time was increased in the postpartum rats. Treadmill exercise increased climbing time and suppressed immobility time in the postpartum rats. 5-HT and TPH expressions in the dorsal raphe were suppressed in the postpartum rats, and treadmill exercise enhanced 5-HT and TPH expressions in the postpartum rats. Treadmill exercise ameliorated the PPD very effectively by enhancing serotonin level.

Dexmedetomidine Ameliorates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Depressive Behaviors in Mice

“…As the method described previously [ 3 , 20 ], depression-like behavior was determined by the forced swimming test. Six days after sleep deprivation, a preliminary test was performed during 15 minutes.…”

“…As the method described previously [ 3 , 20 ], the mice were sacrificed immediately after tail suspension test. Zoletil 50 (10 mg/kg; Vibac Laboratories, Carros, France) was used to anesthetize the mice, and then 50mM phosphate-buffered saline was transcardially perfused to the mice, and the mice were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde in 100mM phosphate buffer (pH, 7.4).…”

“…As the method described previously [ 20 , 23 ], we performed immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of 5-HT, TPH, and TH. The tissue sections were treated with mouse anti-TH, mouse anti-TPH, and rabbit anti-5-HT antibody (1:1,000; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA) during overnight.…”

“…As the method described previously [ 20 , 23 ], Western blotting was conducted to evaluated D1 dopamine receptor expression in the PFC, striatum, and SN. After dissecting PFC, striatum, and SN, these tissues were collected.…”

Physical Activity as Treatment for Depression in Recreation Therapy: Transitioning from Research to Practice

“…Improved mood is one of the major outcomes derived from physical activity, which is associated with increased hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, physical activity activates the pituitary gland and it triggers the increased secretion of β-endorphin (Dinas, Koutedakis, & Flouris, 2011): Another study reported that physical activity increases serotonin production (Ji et al, 2017); increases in both are associated with improved mood.…”