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Gastrectomy alters emotional reactivity in rats: neurobiological mechanisms
Author(s) -
Salomé Nicolas,
Taube Magdalena,
Egecioglu Emil,
Hansson Caroline,
Stenström Björn,
Chen Duan,
Andersson Daniel R.,
Georg Kuhn H.,
Ohlsson Claes,
Dickson Suzanne L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07640.x
Subject(s) - nucleus accumbens , elevated plus maze , psychology , amygdala , neuroscience , neurogenesis , open field , hippocampus , prefrontal cortex , dopamine , anxiety , cognition , psychiatry
Gastrectomy (Gsx) is associated with altered emotional function and a predisposition to depression/anxiety disorders. Here we investigated the effects of Gsx on emotional reactivity in rats and explored the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Gsx‐ and sham‐operated rats were exposed to behavioural tests that explore anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviour (open field, black and white box, elevated plus maze, social interaction, forced swim) as well as memory (object recognition). The potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying these differences were explored by measuring (i) turnover of candidate neurotransmitter systems in the nucleus accumbens, (ii) hippocampal neurogenesis by BrdU labelling or by analysis of candidate genes involved in neuronal growth and (iii) changes in mRNA expression of candidate genes in dissected hippocampal and amygdala tissue. Data from individual behavioural tests as well as from multivariate analysis revealed differing emotional reactivity between Gsx‐ and sham‐operated rats. Gsx rats showed reduced emotional reactivity in a new environment and decreased depression‐like behaviour. Accumbal serotonin and dopamine turnover were both reduced in Gsx rats. Gsx also led to a memory deficit, although hippocampal neurogenesis was unaffected. Of the many candidate genes studied by real‐time RT‐PCR, we highlight a Gsx‐associated decrease in expression of Egr‐1, a transcription factor linked to neural plasticity and cognition, in the hippocampus and amygdala. Thus, Gsx induces an alteration of emotional reactivity and a memory/cognitive deficit that is associated with reduced turnover of serotonin and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and decreased expression of Egr‐1 in the hippocampus and amygdala.