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Hippocampal upregulation of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene following neonatal clomipramine treatment (a model of depression)

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 6, pages 381–387 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Although a putative role has been attributed to inflammation in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders, the relationship of prostaglandins, known mediators of inflammation, and depression has not been elucidated. Clomipramine is an antidepressive drug with a pro-depressive paradoxical effect in adult rats when administrated neonatally. Using this effect as a model of depression, we investigated the differential expression of the cyclooxygenase (COX-2) gene in rat brains. Rats injected neonatally with clomipramine showed depressive-like symptoms in adulthood, as well as decreased levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a quantitative differential expression of the COX-2 gene (Real Time PCR) and protein (immunohistochemistry) in the hippocampus. As evidenced, the relationship between a key enzyme in the prostaglandin synthesis and biological and behavioral depression-like changes opens an interesting line of investigation regarding the molecular bases of depression and its potential treatment through immunomodulatory drugs.

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  1. Unit of Brain Research, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas y Medicina Experimental del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    P Cassano, A Hidalgo, V Burgos, S Adris & P Argibay

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Correspondence to P Cassano.

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By the present, we declare that we have no duality or conflict of interest. The present work was financed entirely by the Hospital Italiano of Buenos Aires, a ‘non profit’ organization.

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Cassano, P., Hidalgo, A., Burgos, V. et al. Hippocampal upregulation of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene following neonatal clomipramine treatment (a model of depression). Pharmacogenomics J 6, 381–387 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500385

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