Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2014 Oct;18(5):371-376. 10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.5.371.

Alterations of Amino Acid Level in Depressed Rat Brain

• Yang P
• Li X
• Ni J
• Tian J
• Jing F
• Qu C
• Lin L
• Zhang H

• KMID: 2285534
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.5.371

Abstract

Amino-acid neurotransmitter system dysfunction plays a major role in the pathophysiology of depression. Several studies have demonstrated the potential of amino acids as a source of neuro-specific biomarkers could be used in future diagnosis of depression. Only partial amino acids such as glycine and asparagine were determined from certain parts of rats' brain included hippocampi and cerebral cortex in previous studies. However, according to systematic biology, amino acids in different area of brain are interacted and interrelated. Hence, the determination of 34 amino acids through entire rats' brain was conducted in this study in order to demonstrate more possibilities for biomarkers of depression by discovering other potential amino acids in more areas of rats' brain. As a result, 4 amino acids (L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, taurine and gamma-amino-n-butyric acid) among 34 were typically identified as potentially primary biomarkers of depression by data statistics. Meanwhile, an antidepressant called Fluoxetine was employed to verify other potential amino acids which were not identified by data statistics. Eventually, we found L-alpha-amino-adipic acid could also become a new potentially secondary biomarker of depression after drug validation. In conclusion, we suggested that L-aspartic acid, L-glutamine, taurine, gamma-amino-n-butyric acid and L-alpha-amino-adipic acid might become potential biomarkers for future diagnosis of depression and development of antidepressant.

Keyword

Amino acids; Behavior; Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress; Depression; LC-MS/MS

MeSH Terms

Amino Acids
Animals
Asparagine
Aspartic Acid
Biomarkers
Biology
Brain*
Cerebral Cortex
Depression
Diagnosis
Fluoxetine
Glutamine
Glycine
Neurotransmitter Agents
Rats*
Taurine
Amino Acids
Asparagine
Aspartic Acid
Fluoxetine
Glutamine
Glycine
Neurotransmitter Agents
Taurine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Total Ion Chromatography of amino acids.

• 

  Fig. 2 Scores and loadings from PCA and PLS-DA.

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