Lithium Carbonate Alleviate Neuronal Apoptosis to Improve Depression Symptoms in Mice by the JNK/c-Jun Signaling Pathway
Abstract
Weidong Jin, Haiying Jin, Jie Liu, Fengpei Chen and Fengli Sun
Objective: To explore lithium alleviate the apoptosis of nerve cells through JNK/ C-Jun signaling pathway and improve the depressive symptoms in depressed mice.
Methods: 30 male mice were randomly divided into blank control , model group and drug intervention group. A model of depression was established by Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Mice in drug intervention group were given lithium from 4th weekend. The behavior of mice were evaluated and Western blot was used to detect expression levels of related proteins.
Results: Compared with model group, drug intervention group showed a significant decrease depressive symptoms (P < 0.01). Western blotting results show that compared with blank control group, protein levels of P-JNK /JNK ,P-C-Jun/C-Jun ,caspase-3 and Bax in PFC of model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), Bcl-2 level significantly decreased (P < 0.01);Compared with the model group, the protein levels of nerve cells p-JNK/JNK, P-C-Jun/C-Jun, aspase-3 and Bax in prefrontal cortex of mice in drug intervention group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), Bcl-2 level increased significantly (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Lithium improve depression symptoms by reducing apoptosis of prefrontal cortex nerve cells through JNK/ C-Jun signaling pathway in depression-like mice.