| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
|
|---|
| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Although alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR), a subtype of nicotine receptors, plays a role in the inflammation, the role of alpha-7 nAChR in depression has been unknown. In this study, we examined the role of alpha-7 nAChR in depression using alpha-7 nAChR KO mice. We found that alpha-7 nAChR KO mice show depression-like phenotype, including anhedonia. We also found an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the nucleus accumbens, but not other regions (prefrontal cortex and hippocampus). Furthermore, TrkB antagonist ANA-12, but not TrkB agonist 7,8-DHF, showed antidepressant-like effects in alpha-7 nAChR KO mice. These findings suggest that increased BDNF-TRkB signaling in the nucleus accumbens, but not other brain regions, plays a key role in depression-like behavior in alpha-7 nAChR KO mice.
|
