Chronic Antidepressant Treatment
Objective: To determine the role of TrkB receptor in hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral sensitivity to chronic antidepressant treatment
Protocol Steps
Chronic Antidepressant Administration
Mice were exposed to chronic antidepressant treatment to assess effects on neurogenesis and behavior
Note: Treatment was administered chronically to stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis
View evidence from paper
“Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is stimulated by chronic administration of antidepressants (ADs) and by voluntary exercise”
Behavioral Testing in Depression and Anxiety Paradigms
Mice were tested in depression and anxiety-like behavioral paradigms to assess sensitivity to antidepressive treatment
Note: TrkB-ablated mice showed behavioral insensitivity to antidepressive treatment in these paradigms
View evidence from paper
“Ablation of TrkB also renders these mice behaviorally insensitive to antidepressive treatment in depression and anxiety-like paradigms”
Assessment of Neurogenesis and Proliferation
Measurement of neural progenitor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation in the dentate gyrus following chronic antidepressant exposure
Note: TrkB-ablated mice showed impaired proliferation and no increase in neurogenesis with chronic antidepressant or wheel running
View evidence from paper
“Neural progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) that are capable of continuous proliferation and neuronal differentiation are the source of such structural plasticity”