Single dose ketamine injection affects activation of cells in the nucleus accumbens of prenatally stressed rats

Authors : Elif POLAT ÇORUMLU, Osman Özcan Aydın, Emel Ulupınar

Pages : 115-120

View : 15 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2017-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: The nucleus accumbens insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(NAc); has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. In animals displaying  depressive-like behavior following chronic stress exposure, glutamatergic transmission increases in the NAc. NMDA  receptor antagonist ketamine act as an antidepressant, especially in treatment-resistant cases. In this study, we aimed to  investigate the effects of single-dose ketamine application in the activation of cells in the NAc of prenatally stressed rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley dams were exposed to immobilization stress during the last week of pregnancy for 3 hours. Male  offspring were divided into four groups at postnatal day 40. Prenatal stress and control groups received either a single dose of  ketamine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10 mg/kg, i.p.); or same doses of saline injections. Immediate gene activation was stimulated by forced swim for 6  minutes and assessed by c-Fos immunohistochemistry. The total number of activated cells in the core and shell subregions was  estimated by optical fractionator method. Results: The total number of activated cells in the shell subregion significantly decreased in prenatally stressed rats. Ketamine  administration reversed their activation level similar to those of control group. Although activation of cells did not change in the  core region following prenatal stress, ketamine treatment enhanced the activation of cells in this region both control and prenatally  stressed animals. Conclusion: These results suggest that prenatal stress influences the activation of NAc in a subdivision specific manner, but  ketamine treatment could act on both core and shell regions by affecting glutamatergic limbic information that flows from  shell to core subregion of the NAc.
Keywords : c Fos, ketamine, nucleus accumbens, prenatal stress, stereology