Modélisation de l'impact de la dépression sur le système cardiovasculaires (utilisation du modèle de stress chronique imprédictible chez la souris)

La dépression est considérée comme un facteur de risque capable de prédire l apparition de maladies cardiovasculaires. L'objectif de ce travail est de développer un modèle animal capable de reproduire les altérations vasculaires et la résistance aux traitements observés chez les patients dépressifs qui présentent des risques cardiovasculaires. La formation d'athérosclérose et la fonction endothéliale sont évaluées chez des souris exposées au stress chronique imprédictible (UCMS) qui constitue un modèle valide de dépression et les effets comportementaux d un traitement antidépresseur sont évalués chez des souris UCMS recevant un régime hyper lipidique. Nos résultats montrent que l UCMS induit un état de type dépressif et un dysfonctionnement endothélial qui n est pas suffisant pour induire de l athérosclérose. Le régime hyper lipidique abolit les effets antidépresseurs de la fluoxétine. Ces résultats suggèrent que ce modèle reproduit les altérations physiologiques mais non morphologique aussi bien que la résistance aux traitements des patients dépressifs présentant des facteurs de risques cardiovasculaires.Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that depressive symptoms can predict cardiovascular disease in healthy patients. The purpose of this study was to develop an animal model able to reproduce the vascular alterations and the treatment resistance observed in depressed subjects who develop vascular disease. Atherosclerotic plaque formation and endothelial dysfunction were assessed in mice exposed to the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS) that constitute a reliable animal model of depression and the reversal effect of antidepressant was assessed in UCMS mice fed a high fat diet. Our results show that high fat diet regimen prevented the reversal effect of chronic fluoxetine treatment on UCMS-induced depressive-like behaviour. Moreover, UCMS-induced endothelial dysfunction was not associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation. These findings suggest that this model can reproduce the physiological but not the morphological vascular alterations observed in depressed patients who develop vascular disease as well as the reported treatment resistance in depressed patients also suffering from cardiovascular risk factor.TOURS-Bibl.électronique (372610011) / SudocSudocFranceF

Association between Repeated Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS) Procedures with a High Fat Diet: A Model of Fluoxetine Resistance in Mice

Major depressive disorder is a debilitating disease. Unfortunately, treatment with antidepressants (ADs) has limited therapeutic efficacy since resistance to AD is common. Research in this field is hampered by the lack of a reliable natural animal model of AD resistance. Depression resistance is related to various factors, including the attendance of cardiovascular risk factors and past depressive episodes. We aimed to design a rodent model of depression resistance to ADs, associating cardiovascular risk factors with repeated unpredicted chronic mild stress (UCMS). Male BALB/c mice were given either a regular (4% fat) or a high fat diet (45% fat) and subjected to two 7-week periods of UCMS separated by 6 weeks. From the second week of each UCMS procedure, vehicle or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administrated daily. The effects of the UCMS and fluoxetine in both diet conditions were assessed using physical (coat state and body weight) and behavioural tests (the reward maze test and the splash test). The results demonstrate that during the second procedure, UCMS induced behavioural changes, including coat state degradation, disturbances in self-care behaviour (splash test) and anhedonia (reward maze test) and these were reversed by fluoxetine in the regular diet condition. In contrast, the high-fat diet regimen prevented the AD fluoxetine from abolishing the UCMS-induced changes. In conclusion, by associating UCMS—an already validated animal model of depression—with high-fat diet regimen, we designed a naturalistic animal model of AD resistance related to a sub-nosographic clinical entity of depression

Behavioral and Transcriptomic Changes Following Brain-Specific Loss of Noradrenergic Transmission.

Noradrenaline (NE) plays an integral role in shaping behavioral outcomes including anxiety/depression, fear, learning and memory, attention and shifting behavior, sleep-wake state, pain, and addiction. However, it is unclear whether dysregulation of NE release is a cause or a consequence of maladaptive orientations of these behaviors, many of which associated with psychiatric disorders. To address this question, we used a unique genetic model in which the brain-specific vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) gene expression was removed in NE-positive neurons disabling NE release in the entire brain. We engineered VMAT2 gene splicing and NE depletion by crossing floxed VMAT2 mice with mice expressing the Cre-recombinase under the dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) gene promotor. In this study, we performed a comprehensive behavioral and transcriptomic characterization of the VMAT2DBHcre KO mice to evaluate the role of central NE in behavioral modulations. We demonstrated that NE depletion induces anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, improves contextual fear memory, alters shifting behavior, decreases the locomotor response to amphetamine, and induces deeper sleep during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase. In contrast, NE depletion did not affect spatial learning and memory, working memory, response to cocaine, and the architecture of the sleep-wake cycle. Finally, we used this model to identify genes that could be up- or down-regulated in the absence of NE release. We found an up-regulation of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2c (SV2c) gene expression in several brain regions, including the locus coeruleus (LC), and were able to validate this up-regulation as a marker of vulnerability to chronic social defeat. The NE system is a complex and challenging system involved in many behavioral orientations given it brain wide distribution. In our study, we unraveled specific role of NE neurotransmission in multiple behavior and link it to molecular underpinning, opening future direction to understand NE role in health and disease

Modelisation of the cardiovascular consequences of depression in mouse model of chronic stress

La dépression est considérée comme un facteur de risque capable de prédire l‟apparition de maladies cardiovasculaires. L'objectif de ce travail est de développer un modèle animal capable de reproduire les altérations vasculaires et la résistance aux traitements observés chez les patients dépressifs qui présentent des risques cardiovasculaires. La formation d'athérosclérose et la fonction endothéliale sont évaluées chez des souris exposées au stress chronique imprédictible (UCMS) qui constitue un modèle valide de dépression et les effets comportementaux d‟un traitement antidépresseur sont évalués chez des souris UCMS recevant un régime hyper lipidique. Nos résultats montrent que l‟UCMS induit un état de type dépressif et un dysfonctionnement endothélial qui n‟est pas suffisant pour induire de l‟athérosclérose. Le régime hyper lipidique abolit les effets antidépresseurs de la fluoxétine. Ces résultats suggèrent que ce modèle reproduit les altérations physiologiques mais non morphologique aussi bien que la résistance aux traitements des patients dépressifs présentant des facteurs de risques cardiovasculaires.Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that depressive symptoms can predict cardiovascular disease in healthy patients. The purpose of this study was to develop an animal model able to reproduce the vascular alterations and the treatment resistance observed in depressed subjects who develop vascular disease. Atherosclerotic plaque formation and endothelial dysfunction were assessed in mice exposed to the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS) that constitute a reliable animal model of depression and the reversal effect of antidepressant was assessed in UCMS mice fed a high fat diet. Our results show that high fat diet regimen prevented the reversal effect of chronic fluoxetine treatment on UCMS-induced depressive-like behaviour. Moreover, UCMS-induced endothelial dysfunction was not associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation. These findings suggest that this model can reproduce the physiological but not the morphological vascular alterations observed in depressed patients who develop vascular disease as well as the reported treatment resistance in depressed patients also suffering from cardiovascular risk factor

Behavioral and Transcriptomic Changes Following Brain-Specific Loss of Noradrenergic Transmission

Noradrenaline (NE) plays an integral role in shaping behavioral outcomes including anxiety/depression, fear, learning and memory, attention and shifting behavior, sleep-wake state, pain, and addiction. However, it is unclear whether dysregulation of NE release is a cause or a consequence of maladaptive orientations of these behaviors, many of which associated with psychiatric disorders. To address this question, we used a unique genetic model in which the brain-specific vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) gene expression was removed in NE-positive neurons disabling NE release in the entire brain. We engineered VMAT2 gene splicing and NE depletion by crossing floxed VMAT2 mice with mice expressing the Cre-recombinase under the dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) gene promotor. In this study, we performed a comprehensive behavioral and transcriptomic characterization of the VMAT2DBHcre KO mice to evaluate the role of central NE in behavioral modulations. We demonstrated that NE depletion induces anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, improves contextual fear memory, alters shifting behavior, decreases the locomotor response to amphetamine, and induces deeper sleep during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) phase. In contrast, NE depletion did not affect spatial learning and memory, working memory, response to cocaine, and the architecture of the sleep-wake cycle. Finally, we used this model to identify genes that could be up- or down-regulated in the absence of NE release. We found an up-regulation of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2c (SV2c) gene expression in several brain regions, including the locus coeruleus (LC), and were able to validate this up-regulation as a marker of vulnerability to chronic social defeat. The NE system is a complex and challenging system involved in many behavioral orientations given it brain wide distribution. In our study, we unraveled specific role of NE neurotransmission in multiple behavior and link it to molecular underpinning, opening future direction to understand NE role in health and disease

Endothelial dysfunction: A potential therapeutic target for geriatric depression and brain amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease?

International audienceDepression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are among the most prevalent mental disorders in the elderly. Strong evidence suggests that vascular diseases and vascular risk factors are associated with both depression and AD, and could partially explain the coexistence or the concurrent onset of these two diseases. In particular, endothelial dysfunction appears to play a critical role in the neurobiology of depression and amyloid deposition in the brains of patients with AD. Antidepressants have a significant impact on endothelial function. In addition, several drugs used to treat vascular disease or vascular risk factors, such as calcium-channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins, have, to variable extents, significant clinical effects on depressive symptomatology or amyloid deposition in AD. Furthermore, preclinical and clinical data suggest that the nitric oxide and VEGF signaling pathways may be of value for the treatment of depression and AD

Early and Late-Onset Effect of Chronic Stress on Vascular Function in Mice: A Possible Model of the Impact of Depression on Vascular Disease in Aging

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Fluoxetine Effect on Aortic Nitric Oxide-Dependent Vasorelaxation in the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Model of Depression in Mice

International audienceMajor depression is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanism by which depression may induce cardiovascular events is unclear. Endothelial dysfunction has been reported as a possible link between depression and subsequent cardiovascular events as described in depressed subjects. The purpose of this study was to investigate endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis formation in the aorta of mice exposed to the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) procedure

Selective genetic disruption of dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission: insights into motor, emotional and addictive behaviour

International audienceBackground The monoaminergic transmitters dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) modulate cerebral functions via their extensive effects in the brain. Investigating their roles has led to the creation of vesicular monoaminergic transporter-2 (VMAT2) knockout (KO) mice. While this mutation results in postnatal death, VMAT2-heterozygous (HET) mice are viable and show a complex behavioural phenotype. However, the simultaneous alteration of the 3 systems prevents investigations into their individual functions. Methods To assess the specific role of NE, 5-HT and DA, we genetically disrupted their neurotransmission by creating conditional VMAT2-KO mice with targeted recombination. These specific recombinations were obtained by breeding VMAT2(lox/lox) mice with DBHcre, SERTcre and DATcre mice, respectively. We conducted a complete neurochemical and behavioural characterization of VMAT2-HET animals in each system. Results Conditional VMAT2-KO mice revealed an absence of VMAT2 expression, and a specific decrease in the whole brain levels of each monoamine. Although NE- and 5-HT-depleted mice are viable into adulthood, DA depletion results in postnatal death before weaning. Interestingly, alteration of the DA transmission fully accounted for the increased amphetamine response formerly observed in the VMAT2-HET mice, whereas alteration of the 5-HT system was solely responsible for the increase in cocaine response. Limitations We used VMAT2-HET mice that displayed a mild phenotype. Because the VMAT2-KO in DA neurons is lethal, it precluded a straightforward comparison of the full KOs in the 3 systems. Conclusion Given the intermingled functions of NE, 5-HT and DA in regulating cognitive and affective functions, this model will enhance understanding of their respective roles in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders

Genetic elimination of dopamine vesicular stocks in the nigrostriatal pathway replicates Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms without neuronal degeneration in adult mice

Abstract The type 2 vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2), by regulating the storage of monoamines transmitters into synaptic vesicles, has a protective role against their cytoplasmic toxicity. Increasing evidence suggests that impairment of VMAT2 neuroprotection contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Several transgenic VMAT2 mice models have been developed, however these models lack specificity regarding the monoaminergic system targeting. To circumvent this limitation, we created VMAT2-KO mice specific to the dopamine (DA) nigrostriatal pathway to analyze VMAT2’s involvement in DA depletion-induced motor features associated to PD and examine the relevance of DA toxicity in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Adult VMAT2 floxed mice were injected in the substancia nigra (SN) with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing the Cre-recombinase allowing VMAT2 removal in DA neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway solely. VMAT2 deletion in the SN induced both DA depletion exclusively in the dorsal striatum and motor dysfunction. At 16 weeks post-injection, motor symptoms were accompanied with a decreased in food and water consumption and weight loss. However, despite an accelerating death, degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons was not observed in this model during this time frame. This study highlights a non-cytotoxic role of DA in our genetic model of VMAT2 deletion exclusively in nigrostriatal neurons