Effect of Fluoxetine and Lithium Carbonate on Expression of BDNF in Hippocampus of Chronic Stress Depression Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of fluoxetine and lithium carbonate on expression of BDNF in hippocampus of chronic stress depression rats.Methods 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into depression model group,fluoxetine group,lithium carbonate group and control group with each group 15 rats.Rats in depression mode group,fluoxetine group and lithium carbonate group were given stress stimulation for 21 days,during which time the rats in control group were normally fed without stress stimulation.During the 21 days,rats in fluoxetine group were given fluoxetine each day by intragastric administration(10 mg/kg),rats in lithium carbonate group were given lithium carbonate each day by intragastric administration(60 mg/kg),while rats in depression mode group and control group were given the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride injection by intragastric administration.The ethology examination was performed by using open-field method and fluid consumption experiment.The expression of BDNF in hippocampus of rats was detected by Western-blotting method.Results After stress stimulation,the horizontal crossing numbers,erection times,modification times and percentage of sucrose consumption in depression mode group were significantly less than those of the control group(P0.01).Horizontal crossing numbers,percentage of sucrose consumption,erection times and modification time in lithium carbonate group were significantly less than those of the control group(P0.05).Horizontal crossing numbers,erection times,modification times and percentage of sucrose consumption in fluoxetine group were significantly more than those of depression mode group(P0.05),but the horizontal crossing numbers and erection times were significantly less than those of the control group(P0.05),and modification times and percentage of sucrose consumption showed no statistically differences compared with the control group(P0.05).In Western-blotting test,the expression level of BDNF in hippocampus of depression mode group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P0.01).The expression level of BDNF in hippocampus of lithium carbonate group was significantly higher than that of the depression mode group(P0.01),but still significantly lower than that of the control group(P0.01).The expression level of BDNF in hippocampus of fluoxetine group was significantly higher than that of the depression mode group(P0.01),but showed no statistically difference compared with the control group(P0.05).Conclusion Chronic stress can lead to low expression of BDNF in hippocampus of rats,but fluoxetine and lithium carbonate can reverse this effect with fluoxetine superior to lithium carbonate.