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A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
Published on: May 15, 2019
Regular exercise cures depression-like behavior via VEGF-Flk-1 signaling in chronically stressed mice
1Department of Health and Sports Science, Nippon Medical School, 2-297-2 Kosugi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-0063, Japan.
Neuroscience
|February 7, 2012
Summary
Regular exercise combats depression-like behaviors by improving hippocampal blood vessels and neurogenesis. This effect, mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, is crucial for the antidepressant action of exercise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic stress induces depression-like behaviors and impairs hippocampal neurogenesis and vascularization.
- Exercise demonstrates antidepressant effects and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, but its link to microvasculature remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of hippocampal microvasculature in exercise-induced antidepressant effects.
- To determine if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling mediates exercise's benefits on stress and depression.
Main Methods:
- Compared depression-like behavior, hippocampal blood vessel density, and neurogenesis in stressed mice undergoing exercise.
- Administered a VEGF receptor inhibitor (SU1498) to assess its impact on exercise-induced antidepressant effects.
Main Results:
- Chronic stress decreased depressive behavior, hippocampal vascularity, and neurogenesis.
- Exercise training reversed these effects in stressed mice.
- Inhibiting VEGF receptor signaling abolished the antidepressant and neurogenic benefits of exercise.
Conclusions:
- Exercise-induced antidepressant effects are dependent on the improvement of hippocampal blood vessels and neurogenesis.
- VEGF signaling pathway plays a critical role in mediating the antidepressant actions of regular exercise.
