Effects of arketamine on depression-like behaviors and demyelination in mice exposed to chronic restrain stress: A role of transforming growth factor-β1

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2024-12, Vol.367, p.745-755
• Main Authors: Xu, Dan, Liu, Guilin, Zhao, Mingming, Wan, Xiayun, Qu, Youge, Murayama, Rumi, Hashimoto, Kenji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antidepressant; Arketamine; Chronic stress; Demyelination; Depression; TGF-β1
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.222

Chronic restrain stress (CRS) induces depression-like behaviors and demyelination in the brain; however, the relationship between these depression-like behaviors and demyelination remains unclear. Arketamine, the (R)-enantiomer of ketamine, has shown rapid antidepressant-like effects in CRS-exposed mice. We examined whether arketamine can improve both depression-like behaviors and demyelination in the brains of CRS-exposed mice. Additionally, we investigated the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the beneficial effects of arketamine. A single dose of arketamine (10 mg/kg) improved both depression-like behavior and demyelination in the corpus callosum of CRS-exposed mice. Correlations were found between depression-like behaviors and demyelination in this region. Furthermore, pretreatment with RepSox, an inhibitor of TGF-β1 receptor, significantly blocked the beneficial effects of arketamine on depression-like behaviors and demyelination in CRS-exposed mice. Finally, a single intranasal administration of TGF-β1 ameliorated both depression-like behaviors and demyelination in CRS-exposed mice. The precise mechanisms by which TGF-β1 contributes to the effects of arketamine remain unclear. These data suggest that CRS-induced demyelination in the corpus callosum may contribute to depression-like behaviors, and that arketamine can mitigate these changes through a TGF-β1-dependent mechanism. •Chronic restrain stress (CRS) induces demyelination in the brain.•Arketamine mitigated depression-like behaviors and demyelination in CRS-exposed mice.•TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor blocked the effects of arketamine in CRS-exposed mice.•Intranasal injection of TGF-β1 improved depression-like behaviors and demyelination in CRS-exposed mice