Abstract:

Objective To observe the change of phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein expression and the neuronal apoptosis in amygdala of depression model rats, and study the mechanism of the disease. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and model group. The depression animal model was produced by giving rats chronic unpredicted mild stress. The depressional behavior was examined by using sucrose preference test, tail-suspension test and Morris water maze. The expression of pMAP-2 protein was detected by using Western blotting and the apoptosis was observed under a transmission electron microscope. Results Change in body weight (%) and preference of sucrose of the model group rats were significantly lower, while the tail-suspension immobility and the escape latency time were longer than those of the control group rats ( P <0.05). The expression of pMAP-2 protein of the model group was higher than that of the control group ( P <0.05). Apoptosis increased in amygdala neurons of the model group rats. Conclusion The enhanced neuronal apoptosis in amygdala of depression may be due to the enhanced phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein expression.

Key words: Depression, Amygdala, Microtubule-associated protein, Western blotting, Rat