Increased Synaptophysin in the Prefrontal Cortex of Ovarectomized Rats Showing Depressive-like Behavior

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

Abstract

Aim: Synaptophysin is an important synaptic marker. Changes in synaptophysin expression in response to ovarian hormones withdrawal have not been much investigated. The present study aimed to assess the prefrontal cortex (PFC) level of synaptophysin and its possible association with depressive-like behavior in ovarectomized rats.  Methods: Twinty female Wistar rats were included into sham-operated control group and ovarectomized group. 16 weeks following the surgical procedures, rats were tested for depression using the forced swim test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). Animals were sacrificed under diethyl ether anesthesia and prefrontal cortices were dissected and used for measurement of synaptophysin, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and soluble amyloid beta (Aβ1-42). Results: The present data revealed a significant increase in immobility time in both FST and TST in ovarectomized rats. The PFC of ovarectomized rats exhibited a significant increase in synaptophysin and Aβ1-42, while both BDNF and NGF expression showed significant decrease. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the increase in PFC level of synaptophysin could be among mechanisms that underlie the depressive-like behavior demonstrated in ovarectomized rats through enhancement of glutamate release and subsequent glutamate neurotoxicity. 

Keywords

Bulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences
Volume 33, Issue 2
December 2013
Pages 1-12

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