Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2008 Jun;12(3):117-123. 10.4196/kjpp.2008.12.3.117.

Effects of Repeated Citalopram Treatments on Chronic Mild Stress- Induced Growth Associated Protein-43 mRNA Expression in Rat Hippocampus

• Park SH
• Choi SH
• Lee J
• Kang S
• Shin YC
• Kim HJ
• Kim HJ
• Shin SK
• Lee MS
• Shin KH

• KMID: 2285352
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2008.12.3.117

Abstract

Although growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) is known to play a significant role in the regulation of axonal growth and the formation of new neuronal connections in the hippocampus, there is only a few studies on the effects of acute stress on GAP-43 mRNA expression in the hippocampus. Moreover, the effects of repeated citalopram treatment on chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced changes in GAP-43 mRNA expression in the hippocampus have not been explored before. To explore this question, male rats were exposed to acute immobilization stress or CMS. Also, citalopram was given prior to stress everyday during CMS procedures. Acute immobilization stress significantly increased GAP-43 mRNA expression in all subfields of the hippocampus, while CMS significantly decreased GAP-43 mRNA expression in the dentate granule cell layer (GCL). Repeated citalopram treatment decreased GAP-43 mRNA expression in the GCL compared with unstressed controls, but this decrease was not further potentiated by CMS exposure. Similar decreases in GAP-43 mRNA expression were observed in CA1, CA3 and CA4 areas of the hippocampus only after repeated citalopram treatment in CMS-exposed rats. This result indicates that GAP-43 mRNA expression in the hippocampus may differently respond to acute and chronic stress, and that repeated citalopram treatment does not change CMS-induced decreases in GAP-43 mRNA expression in the GCL.

Keyword

Stress; Antidepressant; GAP-43; Hippocampus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Axons
Citalopram
GAP-43 Protein
Hippocampus
Humans
Immobilization
Male
Neurons
Rats
RNA, Messenger
Citalopram
GAP-43 Protein
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. (A) The effects of acute stress on GAP-43 mRNA levels in CA1, CA3, CA4 and dentate granular cell layer (GCL) of the hippocampus (n=4 per group) (B) The effects of chronic mild stress (CMS) on GAP-43 mRNA levels in the CA1, CA3, CA4 and GCL of the hippocampus (n=7 per group). The results are expressed as percent of mean value from control group and are mean standard error of mean (S.E.M.). Data were compared by Student's t-test. ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01 and ∗∗∗p<0.001 vs. control group.

• 

  Fig. 2. Representative autoradiographs of 35S-labeled GAP-43 mRNA expression in the hippocampus from each treatment group are shown. (A) control (B) acute immobilization stress.

• 

  Fig. 3. The effects of repeated citalopram treatment and CMS on GAP-43 mRNA levels in the GCL. Repeated citalopram treatment and CMS significantly decreased GAP-43 mRNA levels in the GCL, but there was no significant interaction between repeated citalopram treatment and CMS. The results are expressed as percent of mean value from SAL+CON group and are mean±S.E.M (n=9 per group). Data were compared using a one-way ANOVA with Fisher's LSD post hoc test. ∗p<0.05 and ∗∗p<0.01 vs. saline-treated unstressed control (SAL+CON). Abbreviations used: citalopram treated unstressed group (CON+CIT), saline treated CMS-exposed group (CMS+SAL), citalopram treated CMS-exposed group (CMS+CIT).

• 

  Fig. 4. Representative autoradiographs of 35S-labeled GAP-43 mRNA in the hippocampus from each treatment group are shown. (A) saline treated unstressed group (B) citalopram treated unstressed group (C) saline treated CMS-exposed group (D) citalopram treated CMS-exposed group.

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