Antidepressant-like action of hypoxic postconditioning is accompanied by the up-regulation of hippocampal HIF-1α and erythropoietin

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Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study was to reveal the role of HIF-1α in the effects of hypoxic postconditioning in the rat experimental model of depression “learned helplessness”.

Materials and methods. The studies were performed in the “learned helplessness” paradigm which represents a reliable experimental model of depression in rats. The development of the pathology was evaluated in the behavioral open field test and by the baseline level of plasma corticosterone. Correction of behavioral deficit was performed by three episodes of hypoxic postconditioning (360 mmHg, 2 h). Changes in the immunopositivity of HIF-1α and erythropoietin in the hippocampus of rats were evaluated. An inhibitor of HIF-1α subunit translation topotecan (1 mg/kg, i.p., Santa Cruz, USA) was used on the 4th day after the footshock stress. On the 9th day, animals were tested in the open field test to assess the level of depressive-like behavior.

Results. It was shown that postconditioning by three episodes of mild hypobaric hypoxia resulted in the correction of behavioral deficit produced by the “learned helplessness” aversive stress, and the levels of corticosterone did not differ from the baseline in these animals. These behavioral and hormonal effects were accompanied by the increased level of immunopositive HIF-1α and its transcriptional downstream target erythropoietin in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. Using of HIF-1 inhibitor topotecan dramatically worsen the severity of the depressive-like symptoms.

Conclusion. The findings suggest that HIF-1 appears to have the antidepressant-like activities and that hypoxic postconditioning-induced stimulation of HIF-1α and erythropoietin level might contribute to the endogenous mechanisms which compensate for the pathogenic effects of stressors, particularly for the development of stress-induced depression.

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About the authors

Mikhail Yu. Zenko

Pavlov Institute of Physiology RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: ZenkoMY@infran.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9868-0598
SPIN-code: 6632-3116

Lab. of Regulation of Brain Neuron Functions

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Elena A. Rybnikova

Pavlov Institute of Physiology RAS

Email: RybnikovaEA@infran.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8956-726X
SPIN-code: 9663-4704

Lab. of Regulation of Brain Neuron Functions

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Behavioral and hormonal effects of the hypoxic postconditioning in the rat model of depression: a — horizontal locomotor activity in the open field test; b — blood corticosterone level of different rat groups. Data are presented as a percentage of control values. White bars — control group, 100% (n = 12), black bars — learned helplessness group (n = 12), gray bars — learned helplessness + HPostC group (n = 12). * statistically significant difference, p ≤ 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test

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3. Fig. 2. Changes in the hippocampal level of HIF-1α and EPO. Total number (N) and intensely labeled (Ni) immunopositive cells to HIF-1α (a, b) and erythropoietin (c, d) in the CA1 and DG regions of the different experimental group rat hippocampus, % of the values in the control group. White bars — control group, 100% (n = 12), black bars — learned helplessness group (n = 12), gray bars — learned helplessness + HPostC group (n = 12). * statistically significant difference, p ≤ 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test

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4. Fig. 3. The effect of topotecan (T) on the depressive-like behavior of rats in the open field (duration of freezing reactions, sec). The first bar — control group, (n = 6), black bar — learned helplessness group (n = 6), gray bar — learned helplessness + topotecan group (n = 6), the fourth bar — topotecan group, (n = 6), * statistically significant difference, p ≤ 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test

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Copyright (c) 2020 Zenko M.Y., Rybnikova E.A.

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