Open AccessEstrogen therapy increases BDNF expression and improves post-stroke depression in ovariectomy-treated rats
Author(s) -
Qiaoer Su,
Yifan Cheng,
Kunlin Jin,
Jianhua Cheng,
Yuanshao Lin,
Zhenzhen Lin,
Liuqing Wang,
Baiqi Shao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
experimental and therapeutic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1792-1015
pISSN - 1792-0981
DOI - 10.3892/etm.2016.3531
Subject(s) - estrogen , depression (economics) , medicine , stroke (engine) , neurotrophic factors , brain derived neurotrophic factor , endocrinology , hippocampus , receptor , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
The present study investigated the effect of exogenous estrogen on post-stroke depression. Rats were exposed to chronic mild stress following middle cerebral artery occlusion. The occurrence of post-stroke depression was evaluated according to the changes in preference for sucrose and performance in a forced swimming test. Estrogen therapy significantly improved these neurological symptoms, indicating that estrogen is effective in treating post-stroke depression. Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was reported in the hippocampus of rats that had been treated with estrogen for two weeks, suggesting that BDNF expression may be an important contributor to the improvement of post-stroke depression that is observed following estrogen therapy.