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Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
Published on: September 23, 2021
Deer Antler S-Adenosylmethionine Ameliorates Depression-Like Behaviors and Neuroinflammation in CUMS Mice
Yongjian Liu1, Chenyang Han2, Li Guo2
1Interventional Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Aim:
To investigate the effects and mechanisms of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) from deer antler on improving depression-like behaviors in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice.
Methods:
The CUMS method was used to establish a mouse depression model. The relationship between SAM and HIF-1α was analyzed by small molecule-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulation.
Results:
Network pharmacology analysis showed that the effect of SAM is related to HIF-1α. When shRNA-HIF-1α was used to silence the expression of HIF-1α, the effect of SAM was inhibited. The improvement of depression-like behaviors in mice was not significant, and inflammatory factors were no longer further downregulated.
Conclusion:
SAM can improve depression-like behaviors in CUMS mice and enhance their mobility. SAM inhibits neuroinflammation and glycolysis, and also suppresses the activation of microglia.

