[Animal Experiment]-Correlation between the expression of BDNF and VEGF in hippocampus and forebrain cortex and depression induced by chronic stress in mice

  OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the hippocampus and anterior cortex of depression mice caused by chronic stress.

  Method: 58 SPF KM mice and 29 male and female mice were selected. The mice were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group. The mice in the observation group were stimulated by various stress factors such as fasting and electric shock on the soles of the feet. The control mice were not subjected to experimental stress and were raised under the same conditions. The body weight of mice was measured before stress and 10 and 20 days after stress. Two groups of mice were tested through Morris water maze experiment and field experiment, and the results were observed and recorded. Measure the expression of BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of each group of mice, and analyze their correlation.

  Result: Before the stress, there was no significant difference in the weight levels of the two groups of mice (P \u003c0.05). After stress, the weight of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P0.05). The correction time and vertical movement scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the middle time was significantly longer than that of the control group (P0.05). The expression levels of BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampal CA1 area and cerebral cortex of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P0.05).

  Conclusion: Chronic stress can cause depression-like behavior in mice. This may be related to the decreased expression of BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.