Antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in chronic unpredictable stress: Evidence of the involvement of key enzymes responsible for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism

  • Authors:
    • Dan Liu
    • Xiao‑Ya Hu
    • Hai‑Jian Xia
    • Li‑Jia Wang
    • Ping Shi
    • Xiang‑Pan Chen
    • Qi‑Xin Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 12, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10489
  • Pages: 2954-2962
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Abstract

A number of studies have linked abnormalities in the function of the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems to the pathophysiology of depression. It has been reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors promote the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), which is involved in the synthesis of serotonin. However, limited evidence of TPH alteration has been found in selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and more key enzymes need to be investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine whether venlafaxine (VLX; a classical SNRI) regulates TPH and other key enzymes responsible for the synthesis and metabolism of monoaminergic transmitters in rats with chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). The present results suggested that CUS‑exposed rats exhibited decreased locomotor activity in the open‑field test and increased immobility time in the forced swim test, as compared with the controls. Pretreatment with VLX (20 mg/kg) significantly increased locomotor activity and reduced immobility time in the CUS‑exposed rats. In addition, VLX (20 mg/kg) treatment prevented the CUS‑induced reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase and TPH expression in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, VLX alleviated the CUS‑induced oxidative stress in the serum, cortex and hippocampus. However, VLX administration did not have an effect on indoleamine‑2,3‑dioxygenase overexpression in the hippocampus. It was therefore concluded that the regulation of abnormalities in the synthesis and metabolism of monoaminergic transmitters may be associated with the antidepressant effects of VLX, suggesting that multimodal pharmacological treatments can efficiently treat depression.
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September-2019
Volume 20 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu D, Hu XY, Xia HJ, Wang LJ, Shi P, Chen XP and Zhou QX: Antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in chronic unpredictable stress: Evidence of the involvement of key enzymes responsible for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism. Mol Med Rep 20: 2954-2962, 2019
APA
Liu, D., Hu, X., Xia, H., Wang, L., Shi, P., Chen, X., & Zhou, Q. (2019). Antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in chronic unpredictable stress: Evidence of the involvement of key enzymes responsible for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism. Molecular Medicine Reports, 20, 2954-2962. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10489
MLA
Liu, D., Hu, X., Xia, H., Wang, L., Shi, P., Chen, X., Zhou, Q."Antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in chronic unpredictable stress: Evidence of the involvement of key enzymes responsible for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism". Molecular Medicine Reports 20.3 (2019): 2954-2962.
Chicago
Liu, D., Hu, X., Xia, H., Wang, L., Shi, P., Chen, X., Zhou, Q."Antidepressant effect of venlafaxine in chronic unpredictable stress: Evidence of the involvement of key enzymes responsible for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism". Molecular Medicine Reports 20, no. 3 (2019): 2954-2962. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10489