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An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
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Hyperhomocysteinemia is a result, rather than a cause, of depression under chronic stress

Shen Chengfeng1, Liu Wei2, Wang Xinxing3

  • 1Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China.

Plos One
|October 7, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels do not cause depression in rats subjected to chronic stress. Instead, increased Hcy appears to be a consequence of stress-induced depression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Homocysteine (Hcy) accumulation is linked to depression pathogenesis.
  • The direct role of Hcy as a primary cause of depressive symptoms is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if elevated homocysteine (Hcy) plays a significant role in stress-induced depression.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model in Wistar rats for 8 weeks.
  • Assessed depression-like behaviors (anhedonia) and hippocampal 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan (5-HT) levels.
  • Monitored plasma Hcy levels, and the effects of sertraline and RhBHMT.

Main Results:

  • CUMS rats exhibited depression-like symptoms and increased hippocampal 5-HT reduction after 4 weeks.
  • Plasma Hcy levels increased in CUMS rats by 8 weeks.
  • Sertraline reduced plasma Hcy and improved depressive symptoms; RhBHMT reduced Hcy but not depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Findings do not support the hypothesis that increased Hcy mediates stress-induced depression.
  • Elevated plasma Hcy in CUMS rats is likely a result of depression, not its cause.
Abstract

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