ObjectiveThe anti-apoptotic protein Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is a regulator of apoptosis linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and BI-1-/- mice exhibit increased sensitivity to tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of BI-1 in the pathogenesis of chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like behaviors in BI-1-/- mice.MethodsWe delivered CMS for 2 or 6 weeks in BI-1-knockout and wild-type mice. Control groups of BI-1-knockout and wild-type mice were left undisturbed. The measured parameters were sucrose consumption at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, spontaneous locomotion, and a forced swimming test (FST) at weeks 2 and 6.ResultsSignificant decreases in sucrose consumption and increases in immobility time in the FST were observed in both stress groups compared with the non-stress groups. Interestingly, at week 2, but not at week 6, BI-1-/--stress mice showed less sucrose intake and greater immobility time than did BI-1+/+-stress mice.ConclusionThese results suggest that BI-1 may play role in protecting against the depressogenic effects of CMS in the short term, but not in the long term. Further study is required to deepen understanding of the role of BI-1 in protecting against depression.
We attempted to investigate the effects of GE on scopolamine‐induced amnesia in rats using water maze test. Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups. Each group received 100, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg of the GE or cellulose daily for two week. After one week, scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 min daily before water maze test. The latency to find the platform was obtained in acquisition trial and working memory task and total time spent in the previous target quadrant was analyzed in probe trial. The control group administered cellulose for 1 week and scopolamine 30 min before water maze test showed significant increases in latency time in both acquisition trial and working memory task and time spent in the previous target quadrant in probe trial. The GE group treated with GE 500 mg/kg for 1 week and scopolamine 30 min before water maze test demonstrated significantly less latency time in acquisition trial compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in latency time in working memory task and total time spent in the previous target quadrant in probe trial. Our results suggest that GE may have ameliorating effects on the scopolamine induced amnesia in rats. Further studies need to be pursued to investigate long‐term effects of GE.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.