Curcumin reverses corticosterone-induced depressive-like behavior and decrease in brain BDNF levels in rats |
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Authors: | Huang Zhen Zhong Xiao-Ming Li Zhao-Yi Feng Chun-Rong Pan Ai-Juan Mao Qing-Qiu |
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Institution: | College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China. zhen626@yahoo.com.cn |
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Abstract: | A rat model of depression has been recently developed using exogenous corticosterone (CORT) administration. This study aimed to examine the antidepressant-like effect and the possible mechanisms of curcumin in a CORT-induced depression model in rats. The results showed that 3-week CORT injections caused depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by the significant decrease in sucrose consumption and increase in immobility time in the forced swim test. Repeated CORT injections also significantly decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of the rats. Treatment of the rats with curcumin significantly suppressed the depression-like behavior and the decrease in brain BDNF levels induced by the repeated CORT injections. The results suggest that curcumin produces an antidepressant-like effect in CORT-treated rats, which is possibly mediated by increasing BDNF expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. |
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Keywords: | Antidepressant Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Corticosterone Curcumin |
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