Increased Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Hippocampal Dendritic Spine Density Are Associated with the Rapid Antidepressant-like Effect of Iron-citalopram and Iron-Imipramine Combinations in Mice.

Iron supplementation previously demonstrated antidepressant-like effects in post-partum rats. The present study evaluates the possible synergistic antidepressant effect of sub-therapeutic dose of iron co-administered with citalopram or imipramine in female Institute of Cancer Research mice. Depression-like symptoms were induced in the forced swim (FST), tail suspension (TST), and open space swim (OSST) tests while open field test (OFT) was used to assess locomotor activity. Mice (n = 8) received iron (0.8-7.2 mg/kg), citalopram (3-30 mg/kg), imipramine (3-30 mg/kg), desferrioxamine (50 mg/kg) or saline in the single treatment phase of each model and subsequently a sub-therapeutic dose of iron co-administered with citalopram or imipramine. Assessment of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dendritic spine density was done using ELISA and Golgi staining techniques respectively. Iron, citalopram and imipramine, unlike desferrioxamine, reduced immobility score in the TST, FST and OSST without affecting locomotor activity, suggesting antidepressant-like effect. Sub-therapeutic dose of iron in combination with citalopram or imipramine further enhanced the antidepressant-like effect, producing a more rapid effect when compared to the iron, citalopram or imipramine alone. Iron, citalopram and imipramine or their combinations increased serum BDNF concentration, hippocampal neuronal count and dendritic spine densities. Our study provides experimental evidence that iron has antidepressant-like effect and sub-therapeutic dose of iron combined with citalopram or imipramine produces more rapid antidepressant-like effect. We further show that iron alone or its combination with citalopram or imipramine attenuates the neuronal loss associated with depressive conditions, increases dendritic spines density and BDNF levels. These finding suggest iron-induced neuronal plasticity in the mice brain.

Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mood disorders can be considered among the most common and debilitating mental disorders. Major depression, as an example of mood disorders, is known to severely reduce the quality of life as well as psychosocial functioning of those affected. Its impact on the burden of disease worldwide has been enormous, with the World Health Organisation projecting depression to be the leading cause of mental illness by 2030. Despite several studies on the subject, little has been done to contextualise the condition in Africa, coupled with the fact that there is still much to be understood on the subject. This review attempts to shed more light on the prevalence of depression in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), its pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and the experimental models available to study depression within the sub-region. It also evaluates the contribution of the sub-region to the global research output of depression as well as bottlenecks associated with full exploitation of the sub region's resources to manage the disorder.

Gestational iron supplementation reverses depressive-like behavior in post-partum Sprague Dawley rats: Evidence from behavioral and neurohistological studies.

Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that affects about 9-20% of women after child birth. Reports suggest that gestational iron deficiency can cause a deficit in behavioral, cognitive and affective functions and can precipitate depressive symptoms in mothers during the postpartum period. The present study examined the effect of iron supplementation on depressive behavior during postpartum period in a rat model. Method: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were crossed. Pregnant rats received iron, fluoxetine, desferrioxamine or vehicle throughout the period of gestation. During the postpartum period, mothers from all groups were taken through the open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) and sacrificed for histological examination of the brains. Results: Results showed that rats treated with iron-chelating agent, desferrioxamine, and vehicle during gestation exhibited increased immobility scores in the FST, increased latency to feed and reduced feeding in the NIH with corresponding decreased number of neurons and dendritic branches in the cortex of the brain. These depression-related effects were attenuated by perinatal iron supplementation which showed decreased immobility scores in the FST comparable to rats treated with fluoxetine, a clinically effective antidepressant. Iron treatment also decreased latency to feeding while increasing feeding behavior in the NIH. Iron-treated dams had a higher number of neurons with dendritic connections in the frontal cortex compared to vehicle- and desferrioxamine-treated groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that, iron supplementation during gestation exerts an antidepressant-like effect in postpartum Sprague-Dawley rats, attenuates neuronal loss associated with depression and increases dendritic spine density.

Extract of Xylopia aethiopica and its kaurene diterpene, xylopic acid, improve learning and memory in mice.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction, presenting as learning and memory impairment, is a common manifestation in many chronic diseases of the nervous system. Some of these diseases include depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. To date, few drugs or medicinal products have shown ability to improve learning and memory deficits. Neuroprotection is one of the mechanisms by which memory could be improved. The extract of Xylopia aethiopica and its kaurene derivative, xylopic acid, have previously demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animal models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruit and xylopic acid, on learning and memory using murine models. Materials and methods: Unripe Xylopia aethiopica fruits were collected, dried, and extracted using 70% v/v ethanol. Xylopic acid was isolated from the fruits using petroleum ether, concentrated with ethyl acetate and then recrystallized with petroleum ether before purifying with ethanol (96%v/v). Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice received oral doses of the extract of Xylopia aethiopica (XAE; 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg), xylopic acid (XA; 30, 100 and mg/kg), citicoline (300 mg/kg), piracetam (300 mg/kg) or ketamine (30 mg/kg) and saline (vehicle). The animals were then taken through the Morris water maze test (MWM), spontaneous alternation Y-maze test (Y-maze), and novel object recognition test (NOR), to assess learning and memory. Results: In the NOR test, XAE (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) and XA (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) increased the percentage exploration and recognition index (p = 0.0005 and p < 0.0001, respectively) when compared to both vehicle and ketamine groups. Similarly, doses of XAE and XA as used in the NOR test increased the percentage alternation in the Y-maze test. Although XAE and XA treatments decreased the latencies to find hidden platform in the MWM test, it was not significantly different from the vehicle group. However, this decrease in latency differed significantly when compared to the ketamine group. Interestingly, both XAE and XA treatments increased the percentage frequency to the target quadrant in the probe trial of the MWM. It is noteworthy that in all the three models used, both the extract and xylopic acid performed better than piracetam and citicoline, the reference drugs. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruit and xylopic acid improved exploratory learning and recognition memory, spatial working, recognition, and reference memories in the behavioral tests.