Effect of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress and Sertraline on Vitamin D Metabolism in Rat Prefrontal Cortex / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between vitamin D and depression and the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) plus sertraline on vitamin D metabolism in rat brain.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,normal control + sertraline group,CUMS group and CUMS+sertraline group.CUMS was used to build the animal model of depression.After chronic exposure to CUMS or sertraline (8 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 6 weeks,behavioral response (sucrose preference test) and vitamin D metabolism in the prefrontal cortex were analyzed.Results Compared with normal control group,6 weeks of CUMS procedure induced the rats to a depression-like state,decreased weight and sucrose preference,and increased the expression of enzymes involved in vitamin D activation and catabolism (CYP27B1 and CYP24A1,respectively) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in rat prefrontal cortex.As compared with CUMS group,CYP27B1,CYP24A1 and VDR were significantly decreased in CUMS+sertraline group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion CUMS activates vitamin D signaling in the brain of the animal models of depression,while sertraline alleviates depressive behavior and relieves stress-induced activation of vitamin D signaling,indicating that vitamin D signaling may be involved in the stress-induced depression.