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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
07:57
A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
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A Selective Nuclear Factor-κB Inhibitor, JSH-23, Exhibits Antidepressant-like Effects and Reduces Brain Inflammation
Ahmad Nassar1, Jacob Kaplanski1, Abed N Azab1,2
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 26, 2024
Summary
The study found that the NF-κB inhibitor JSH-23 reduced inflammation and showed antidepressant-like effects in rats. These findings suggest NF-κB as a potential target for depression treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.
- Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in depression and mania.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the selective NF-κB inhibitor JSH-23 on inflammation and mood disorder models in rats.
- To evaluate JSH-23's impact on inflammatory markers in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Rats were treated with JSH-23 to assess anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation.
- Behavioral tests (sucrose consumption, forced swim, amphetamine hyperactivity) were used to model depression and mania.
- Levels of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2, nuclear phospho-p65, tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured.
Main Results:
- JSH-23 demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects, reducing LPS-induced hypothermia and pro-inflammatory mediators.
- Chronic JSH-23 treatment produced antidepressant-like effects, increasing sucrose consumption and decreasing immobility.
- JSH-23 did not affect amphetamine-induced hyperactivity, suggesting no anti-manic effect.
Conclusions:
- NF-κB inhibition by JSH-23 alleviates inflammation and exhibits antidepressant-like properties in rodent models.
- These findings highlight NF-κB as a promising therapeutic target for depression.
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