Int J Stem Cells.  2014 Nov;7(2):70-78. 10.15283/ijsc.2014.7.2.70.

Enhancement of Neural Stem Cells after Induction of Depression in Male Albino Rats (A histological & Immunohistochemical Study)

• Ismail ZM
• Morcos MA
• Mohammad M
• Aboulkhair AG

• KMID: 1974594
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15283/ijsc.2014.7.2.70

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. Endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) could replace damaged Hippocampal neurons in depression. This work was planned to evaluate Rhodiola rosea (Rr) extract possible role in stimulation of NSCs proliferation and in depression improvement.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups; control, untreated depressed model and Rr model. After depression induction by chronic mild stress, rats received Rr extract 1.5 g/kg/day for three weeks. The sucrose preference test (SP) was done before, after depression induction and 3 weeks after supplementation of Rr. The brain was removed and processed for H&E and immunohistochemical staining for caspase 3, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Rr group revealed improved sucrose preference, increased undamaged neurons and decreased dark neurons. Moreover, Caspase 3 +ve cells were not detected, GFAP +ve cells increased and PCNA +ve cells were detected only in Rr group.
CONCLUSIONS
This work points to the role of Rr in depression improvement and in stimulation of NSCs proliferation.

Keyword

Depression; Neural Stem cells; Rhodiola rosea and Dentate gyrus

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Brain
Caspase 3
Depression*
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Humans
Male
Neural Stem Cells*
Neurons
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
Rats*
Rhodiola
Sucrose
Caspase 3
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
Sucrose

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat from control group (GI). The 3 layers; DOL, GL and DML are observed. The DOL and DML show few neurons and glial cells in between neuronal processes. GL is formed of several layers of closely packed neurons with rounded vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli and scanty basophilic cytoplasm. Few dark nuclei appear in the deep layer of granular cells (arrows) (H&E, ×400).

• 

  Fig. 2. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat from GII showing its three layers DOL, GL and DML. Eosinophilic (degenerating) neurons with darkly stained (pyknotic) nuclei are detected (black arrows). Dark irregular shrunken neurons (arrowheads), a swollen cell (thick arrow), blood vessels (*) and vacuolations (V) (probably swelling/degeneration of GL neuron processes) are demonstrated (H&E, ×400).

• 

  Fig. 3. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat from group (GIII). DOL, GL and DML are observed. GL has several layers of closely packed rounded vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli and scanty basophilic cytoplasm. Few dark nuclei appear in the deep GL (arrows). Few dark irregular shrunken cells are detected (arrowheads). Note typical rod shaped microglia nucleus (curved arrow) (H&E, ×400).

• 

  Fig. 4. Photomicrographs of a section in the hippocampal DG of an albino rat showing -ve immunoreactivity in all layers of DG in GI (A) and GIII (B). Brown cytoplasmic immunostaining is detected in most cells of GL, mainly in SGZ (arrow) in GII (C) (Anti-CASP 3 Immunostaining ×400).

• 

  Fig. 5. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat (GI) showing brown immunostaining in astrocyte’s cytoplasm and processes in the three layers of DG mainly in the DML and DOL (red arrows). The immunoreactive cells of GL are detected mainly in SGZ s(blue arrows) (Anti-GFAP Immunostaining ×400).

• 

  Fig. 6. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat (GII) showing brown immunostaining in many astrocytes in the three layers of DG (red arrows). The immunoreactive cells of GL are detected mainly in SGZ closely related to dark cells (blue arrows) (Anti-GFAP Immunostaining ×400).

• 

  Fig. 7. A photomicrograph of a section in DG of the hippocampus of an albino rat (GIII) showing increased immunoreactivity. Brown immunostaining is detected in the cytoplasm and processes of many astrocytes in all layers of DG (red arrows). The immunoreactive cells of GL are detected mainly in SGZ (blue arrows) (Anti-GFAP Immunostaining ×400).

• 

  Fig. 8. Photomicrographs of a section in the hippocampal DG of an albino rat showing -ve immunoreactivity in all layers of DG in GI (A) and GII (B). Many granule cells in GIII (C) show nuclear immunoreactivity. The immunoreactivity occupies mainly SGZ cells (blue arrows). Few immunoreactive nuclei are detected in DML and DOL (red arrows) (Anti-PCNA Immunostaining ×400).

• 

  Fig. 9. Histogram comparing the mean number of nerve cells in the control and experimental groups. *p<0.05 compared to GI. †P<0.05 compared to GII.

• 

  Fig. 10. Histogram comparing the mean area percent of GFAP immunopositive cells in the control and experimental groups. *p<0.05 compared to GI. †p<0.05 compared to GII.

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