Investigation of Poststroke Depression Following a Nucleus Accumbens Infarct in Mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Poststroke depression (PSD) affects approximately 33% of stroke survivors.
• Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is linked to depressive behaviors.
• Neurovascular alterations are observed in major depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if BBB changes in the NAc contribute to PSD.
• To explore the effects of focal stroke in the NAc on BBB integrity and gene expression.
• To assess if NAc stroke induces a PSD-like phenotype in mice.

Main Methods:

• Focal stroke induced in the NAc of male mice using endothelin-1 (ET-1).
• Assessed infarct size, BBB integrity (dextran dye, MRI), and gene expression.
• Evaluated behavioral tests for depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors.

Main Results:

• ET-1 injection caused BBB hyperpermeability and gliosis in the NAc.
• BBB gene expression was altered post-stroke and by surgery.
• Limited PSD-like symptoms were observed, but surgery affected behavior.

Conclusions:

• ET-1 induced stroke in the NAc did not produce a clear PSD phenotype in male mice.
• Highlights technical challenges of deep brain lesions and the need to control for vascular alterations.
• Provides insights for developing mouse models of deep brain lesions.