RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 1,2-dichloroethane(1,2-DCE) subacute exposure on depression in rats as well as the relevant mechanism of monoamine neurotransmitters. METHODS: The specific pathogen free male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in these 4 groups were intra-gastrically administered with 1,2-DCE(diluted in corn oil) at the dose of 0, 20, 40, 80 mg/kg body weight, every other day for 14 times. After exposure, the behavior change of rats was observed by open-field test, sucrose preference test and forced swim test. The levels of the monoamine neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), noradrenaline(NA) and dopamine(DA) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of rats were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection method. RESULTS: The number of rearing, time and distance of central area, sucrose preference index of mice in medium and high dose groups were decreased(P<0.05), while immobility time of forced swim test was increased(P<0.05) when compared with the mice in control group. The levels of 5-HT, NA and DA in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum decreased with the increase of 1,2-DCE exposure(P<0.05), showing a dose-effect relationship. The levels of 5-HT, NA and DA in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in the high-dose group were lower than that of control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The subacute exposure of 1,2-DCE can induce depression-like behavior in rats. The mechanism might be related to the reduction of monoamine neurotransmitters in striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.