Chronic unpredictable stress impairs endogenous antioxidant defense in rat brain. (1st January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Che, Yi; Zhou, Zhu; Shu, Yuxin; Zhai, Chao; Zhu, Yuanyuan; Gong, Songjie; Cui, Yonghua; Wang, Jun-Feng
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 584(2015)
• Page Start: 208
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2015-01-01
• Subjects: Chronic unpredictable stress -- Depression -- Lipid peroxidation -- Glutathione peroxidase -- Catalase -- Antioxidant capacity; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.10.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Chronic unpredictable stress induced depressive-like behaviors. Chronic unpredictable stress increased lipid peroxidation in rat brain. Chronic unpredictable stress decreased endogenous antioxidant defense. Abstract: Many studies have shown that chronic stress can cause neuronal damage and depression, but this exact mechanism still remains unknown. Neurons are vulnerable to lipid peroxidation-induced damage because the major part of neuronal cell membrane is polyunsaturated fatty acids that are substrate for reactive oxygen species. Since endogenous antioxidant defense systems normally eliminate production of reactive oxygen species, deficient antioxidant defense can cause oxidative stress-induced damage. In the present study, to understand the role of endogenous antioxidant defense in chronic stress-induced neuronal damage, we analyzed lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, and activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. We found that chronic unpredictable stress for four weeks in rats induced depressive-like behaviors such as anhedonia, despair and decreased exploration. Malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxidation product, is increased, but total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity and catalase activity are decreased in brain of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Our findings suggest that down regulation of endogenous antioxidant defense induces lipid peroxidation contributing a role to chronic stress and depression.