【Animal Modeling】-The role of cAMP/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in vortioxetine against depression-like behavior in mice

  Objective: To study the effect of vortioxetine, a novel antidepressant, on cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (cAMP/CREB/BDNF) signal transduction pathway.

  Methods: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model group for modeling, and the sugar water preference test was used to investigate whether the model was successfully established. After modeling, the mice in CUMS group were randomly divided into model group, fluoxetine group and vortioxetine group. The antidepressant effect of vortioxetine on depressed mice was investigated by tail suspension test, forced swimming test and open field test. ELISA kit was used to detect the content of cAMP in the hippocampus of mice. The protein expressions of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) and BDNF in mouse hippocampus were detected by western blotting.

  RESULTS: Vortioxetine significantly shortened the immobility time of mice in tail suspension and forced swimming tests (P<0.01), but="" had="" no="" effect="" on="" voluntary="" activity="" in="" open="" field="" test="" p="">0.05), indicating that vortioxetine Tioxetine can improve depression-like behavior in depressed mice; ELISA results show that vortioxetine can significantly increase the content of cAMP in the hippocampus of mice (P<0.01); Western blot results show that vortioxetine can promote pCREB and The protein expression of BDNF (P<0.01).

  Conclusion: The antidepressant mechanism of vortioxetine may be related to the influence of cAMP/CREB/BDNF signal transduction pathway.