J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  1998 Sep;37(5):992-998.

Chronic Antidepressant Administration Increases the Expression of PhosphoCREB(Phosphorylated Cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein) in Rat Hippocampus

• Kim SY
• Han JH
• Lee CU
• Paik IH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study designed to assess the expression of phosphoCREB in rat hippocampus after chronic administration of various antidepressants in comparison with chronic administration of antipsychotic and antianxiety drugs.
METHODS
Male sprague-Dawley rats(200-300g) were used for this experiment. The subjects were divided into 6groups according to specific treatment agents(paroxetine, desipramine, moclobemide, haloperidol. lorazepam, vehicl) which were administered daily for 1day, 3days, 7days, and 14days by intraperitoneal injection repectively. Brains were removed 15 minutes after the last treatment. PhosphoCREB immunoreactivity was mesured by phosphoCREB(+) cell counts in hippocampus of rats.
RESULTS
Expression of phosphoCREB was significantly increased from day 3 in moclobemide group, from day 7 in paroxetine and desipramine groups, and increased most significantly from day 14 in all antidepressant-administered groups, with no increase in other tow groups(lorazepam and haloperidol group) throughout the experiment and even after 14 days of treatment.
CONCLUSION
These result suggest that increased expression of phosphoCREB after chronic administration of antidepressants, not of antipsychotic or antianxiety drugs, demonstrates pharmacological specificity of antidepressant treatment in rat hippocampus regardless of their receptor preference.

Keyword

Antidepressant; PhosphoCREB; Hippocampus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antidepressive Agents
Brain
Cell Count
Cyclic AMP*
Desipramine
Haloperidol
Hippocampus*
Humans
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Lorazepam
Male
Moclobemide
Paroxetine
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Response Elements*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Antidepressive Agents
Cyclic AMP
Desipramine
Haloperidol
Lorazepam
Moclobemide
Paroxetine