Regulation of BDNF and VEGF in the Flinders rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent molecular and cellular studies of stress, depression, and antidepressants have moved the field of mood disorder research beyond the monoamine hypothesis of depression to brain neuroplasticity. Thus preclinical research models and clinical studies have provided evidence that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Further, regulations of neurotrophic/growth factors are believed to play a role in the modulation of the therapeutic effects of antidepressants.

 

AIM: To extend the knowledge of neurotrophic factors and growth factors in the pathophysiology of depression the regulation of BDNF and VEGF were investigated in a genetic rat model of depression, the Flinders rats.

 

METHODS: The rats were housed and sacrificed under standardized time conditions. Between 10.30 and 11.30 the rats were decapitated. The brain was quickly removed and dissected on a cold tile. The tissue was homogenized (1:10, wt/vol) with a polytron in ice-cold extraction buffer. The homogenates were centrifuged (11000g, 20 min, 4°C) and the supernatant was collected and stored at -80°C.  Quantification of BDNF and VEGF was performed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The ELISA kits were optimized and validated for determinations of BDNF and VEGF in brain membrane preparations.

 

RESULTS: BDNF was significantly regulated in hippocampus. VEGF was significantly regulated in hippocampus and frontal cortex.

 

CONCLUSION: As frontal cortex and hippocampus are believed to be core areas of depression, these results confirm the involvement of BDNF and VEGF in the pathophysiology of depression.