Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor rolipram prevents chronic alcoholism and withdrawal-induced depression-like behaviors in mice / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram on the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of alcoholism model mice.METHODS:The mice (n=60) were randomly divided into control group , con-trol+rolipram group, alcoholism model group, and alcohol +rolipram (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) groups.The mice were given alcohol preference test on days 6, 13, 20 and 27.After the test, the mice received withdrawal of alcohol for 1 d.On day 28, the mice were given behavior test of depression , and after the test, the mice were sacrificed.The cAMP levels in the hippocampus and PFC were detected by ELISA , and the protein levels of PKA , CREB, p-CREB and BDNF were detec-ted by Western blot.RESULTS:The mice showed an obvious drinking phenomenon (P<0.01), and the immobility time of forced swimming test and tail suspension test was significantly increased (P<0.01), with increasing drinking days and withdrawal times .However , chronic treatment with rolipram for 28 d reversed this phenomenon .Moreover , the cAMP lev-els in the hippocampus and PFC were significantly decreased after 28 d alcohol treatment ( P<0.01 ) , and pretreatment with rolipram (1 mg/kg) obviously reversed this decrease (P<0.01).Parallel to these changes of cAMP , the protein lev-els of PKA, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased in the hippocampus and PFC (P<0.01), and 28 d rolipram adminis-tration inhibited the decreased cAMP , PKA, p-CREB and BDNF levels in the hippocampus .Moreover, 28 d rolipram ad-ministration also reversed decreased cAMP , PKA and p-CREB in the PFC.CONCLUSION:Rolipram treatment protects against alcohol-induced depression-like behaviors , and also reduces alcohol drinking .These effects may be related to PDE4-cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway .